Catchwords:

APPEALS – apprehension of bias – procedural fairness – whether the trial judge’s interventions gave rise to apprehension of bias or procedural unfairness – whether excessive judicial questioning or comments – whether real danger that trial was unfair

TORTS – malicious prosecution – where criminal proceedings result in acquittal – where police officer instituted proceedings by charging the accused – where proceedings taken over by Director of Public Prosecutions – whether police officer maintained the proceedings – whether in charging the accused police officer acted without reasonable and probable cause – whether officer acted with malice

TORTS – misfeasance in public office – whether malice proved

TORTS – false imprisonment – where plaintiffs detained for purpose of investigation – whether unlawfully detained beyond the maximum investigation period – whether permitted timeouts extended the investigation period – whether trial judge erred in findings as to period of false imprisonment – whether false imprisonment ended when respondents charged and refused bail

APPEALS – damages for false imprisonment – whether trial judge failed to apply correct counterfactual scenario – whether error in awarding compensatory damages – whether nominal damages appropriate – whether error in awarding aggravated and exemplary damages

APPEALS – from finding of fact – credibility of witnesses – whether primary judge erred in credibility and reliability findings