Mistakes lead to record number of appeals

[grace]

Mistakes lead to record number of appeals

Geoff Wilkinson

13 January 2009

Herald Sun

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...801-661,00.html

 

ALMOST two-thirds of County Court judges had convictions or sentences overturned on appeal last year.

 

One judge saw defendants win 12 of 14 appeals against conviction or sentence in 2007-08, and nine successful appeals out of 18 the previous year.

 

New figures reveal a record number of appeals against conviction and a record rate of successful appeals last year.

 

The judges reviewed on appeal - revealed by the Herald Sun today - show that 36 of the County Court's 58 judges and six acting judges saw appeals upheld.

Ninety-nine of the 201 conviction or sentence appeals against all County Court judges were successful.

 

Retrials cost up to $100,000 for a five-day sitting and delay listing of new trials.

 

Chief Justice Marilyn Warren, the state's most senior judge, told the Herald Sun she was troubled by the number of directed retrials.

Edited January 13, 2009 by grace