By Thomas Spohr -
Key decisions
- Wild v Meduri [2024] NSWCA 230
- Shortland v R [2024] NSWCCA 174
Wild v Meduri [2024] NSWCA 230
Evidence of conversations – direct speech – civil cases in criminal matters
This is a rare civil case which has important consequences for criminal lawyers. In the shadow of a debate playing out over whether conversations in affidavits need to be in the first person or not – ideally they should but it depends on the witness’ memory – the NSW Court of Appeal has also suggested witnesses giving evidence in Local and District Court criminal trials should not be forced into strict adherence to first-person accounts of conversation.