Issak v. The King & Ors

Bekele v. The King & Ors

Haile v. The King & Ors

Lower Court Judgment

13/02/2026 Supreme Court of South Australia (Court of Appeal) (Kourakis CJ, Bleby J, David J.

[2026] SASCA 9

Catchwords

Issak v. The King & Ors (A21/2026)

Criminal law – sexual offences – joint criminal enterprise – where primary Judge found no case to answer for joint criminal enterprise at trial – where primary Judge directed acquittals for each of the appellant’s charges – where prosecution appealed acquittals – where appellate court quashed acquittals and ordered a new trial – whether subsequent recognition of necessary confinement of prosecution case on retrial increases force of double jeopardy considerations

Bekele v. The King & Ors (A22/2026)

Criminal law – sexual offences – joint criminal enterprise – appellant found guilty on certain counts following trial by jury – where primary Judge directed acquittals for certain counts – where prosecution appealed acquittals – where appellate court quashed acquittals and ordered a new trial – whether subsequent recognition of necessary confinement of prosecution case on retrial increases force of double jeopardy considerations

Haile v. The King & Ors (A23/2026)

Criminal law – sexual offences – joint criminal enterprise – appellant found guilty on certain counts following trial by jury – where primary Judge directed acquittals for certain counts – where prosecution appealed acquittals – where appellate court quashed acquittals and ordered a new trial – whether subsequent recognition of necessary confinement of prosecution case on retrial increases force of double jeopardy considerations