A transcript of intercepted telephone conversations prepared by a police officer who has listened extensively to the recordings is admissible as an aid to the jury under Butera, even where the officer has no expertise in voice comparison and has listened to material not tendered in evidence, provided the jury is directed that the transcript is an aid only and not independent evidence. Smith v The Queen is distinguishable because the transcript is tendered as a practical aid rather than as opinion evidence of identity. Repeated offences under s 32(1)(d) of the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA) are capable of constituting 'trafficking in prescribed substances' for the purposes of s 5D(2)(b)(iv) of the Telecommunications (Interception) Act 1979 (Cth).
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 6 later cases that cite this judgment.