AJS v The Queen

Criminal law – Verdicts – Statutory alternative verdicts – Appellant convicted by jury of one count of incest – Because of verdict on count of incest jury was not required to consider statutory alternative verdict of indecent act with a child aged under 16 – Court of Appeal quashed the conviction for insufficient evidence and ordered a new trial without specifying what charge or charges were to be tried – Whether the Court of Appeal should have entered a verdict of acquittal on the count of incest.

Criminal law – Verdicts – Appellate jurisdiction – Whether the Court of Appeal's jurisdiction pursuant to s 568(2) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) either to enter a verdict of acquittal or order a new trial should be read with the provisions of ss 421 and 425 regulating alternative verdicts.

Criminal law – Verdicts – Whether entry of verdict of acquittal and order for new trial on lesser alternative count engage principles of estoppel or preclusion.

Criminal law – Trials – Evidence – Whether, following an acquittal and order for a new trial on a lesser alternative count, the jury in the new trial should be informed about that earlier acquittal.

Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) – ss 421, 425 and 568(2).