High Court Registry closure

The High Court Registry will be closed from 4:00pm AEDT on Wednesday, 24 December 2025 and will re-open at 9:00am on Friday, 2 January 2026.

Any party seeking to file a document due to be filed between 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 has an automatic extension of time under the High Court Rules 2004 (Rule 4.01.5) until 4:00pm on Friday, 2 January 2026 to file the document. Any documents lodged between 25 December 2025 and 1 January 2026 will be reviewed on 2 January 2026.

All inquiries for the High Court will be considered when the Registry re-opens on Friday, 2 January 2026. If a matter is of extreme urgency, you may telephone 1800 570 566, select Option 1 and leave a voicemail. In addition, provide details by email to: registry@hcourt.gov.au.

Betts v The Queen

[2016] HCA 25
Judgment date
Case number
S281/2015
Before
French CJ, Kiefel, Bell, Gageler, Gordon JJ
Catchwords

Criminal law – Sentencing – Where appellant appealed against severity of sentences – Where additional material produced by appellant admitted on "usual basis" that it may be taken into account if appellate court came to re-sentence – Where additional material contained evidence inconsistent with appellant's case at sentence hearing – Where appellate court found error, engaged in re-sentencing appellant and refused to take into account additional material – Whether miscarriage of justice occasioned.

Words and phrases – "fresh evidence", "miscarriage of justice", "power of remittal", "re-sentencing discretion", "supplemental powers", "usual basis".

Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) – ss 5(1)(c), 6(3), 12.

Files
25.rtf (196.06 KB)
25.pdf (161.75 KB)