Qaumi, Farhad v R; Qaumi, Mumtaz v R; Qaumi, Jamil v R [2020] NSWCCA 163

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Qaumi, Farhad v R; Qaumi, Mumtaz v R; Qaumi, Jamil v R [2020] NSWCCA 163 Hearing dates: 30 October 2019; 31 October 2019 Date of orders: 15 July 2020 Decision date: 15 July 2020 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Hoeben CJ at CL at [5]; Johnson J at [324] Decision: Conviction appeals: (1) Leave to appeal against conviction be granted. (2) For Mumtaz Qaumi there be a verdict of acquittal entered in respect of Counts 9 and 18. (3) For Farhad Qaumi there be a verdict of acquittal entered in respect of Count 18. (4) Otherwise, for Farhad Qaumi, Mumtaz Qaumi and Jamil Qaumi the appeals against conviction be dismissed. Sentence appeals: Farhad Qaumi: (a) grant leave to appeal against sentence; (b) quash the aggregate sentence imposed on 16 June 2017; (c) in its place, sentence Farhad Qaumi to an aggregate sentence of imprisonment for 58 years, comprising a non-parole period of 42 years commencing on 9 January 2014 and expiring on 8 January 2056 with a balance of term of 16 years commencing on 9 January 2056 and expiring on 8 January 2072; (d) the earliest date upon which Farhad Qaumi will be eligible for release on parole is 9 January 2056. Mumtaz Qaumi: (a) grant leave to appeal against sentence; (b) quash the aggregate sentence imposed on 16 June 2017; (c) in its place, sentence Mumtaz Qaumi to an aggregate sentence of imprisonment for 46 years, comprising a non-parole period of 33 years commencing on 9 December 2014 and expiring on 8 December 2047 with a balance of term of 13 years commencing on 9 December 2047 and expiring on 8 December 2060; (d) the earliest date upon which Mumtaz Qaumi will be eligible for release on parole is 9 December 2047. Jamil Qaumi: (a) grant leave to appeal against sentence; (b) appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – conviction appeals – gangland violence – gun violence – Brothers for Life (BFL) – spate of shootings directed at rival chapter of BFL – wanton lawlessness – hit list – series of attempted murders – shooting in or near people's homes and public places – multiple victims – principles applying to joint criminal enterprise and extended joint criminal enterprise – whether evidence of involvement in such enterprises sufficient to establish liability – Crown case dependent on evidence of "roll over" witnesses – conviction appeals dismissed except for three counts. CRIMINAL LAW – sentence appeals – applicants sentenced for range of serious offences arising from gangland violence – Farhad Qaumi and Mumtaz Qaumi also sentenced for murder – cold blooded contract killing – aggregate sentence imposed for each applicant – sentencing Judge took into account incorrect standard non-parole periods for some counts – error capable of affecting aggregate sentence for each applicant – whether disparity between the indicative sentences for Farhad Qaumi and Mumtaz Qaumi and that nominated for a co-offender for murder offence – reasonable explanations for different indicative sentences for murder offence – no foundation for legitimate grievance arising from differences between indicative sentences – whether sentencing Judge erred in assessment of objective seriousness of some counts – error not established – where Farhad Qaumi (one count) and Mumtaz Qaumi (two counts) acquitted on appeal on some counts – necessary to re-consider aggregate sentence for each applicant – lesser aggregate sentences for Farhad Qaumi and Mumtaz Qaumi warranted to reflect acquittal on some counts – Farhad Qaumi and Mumtaz Qaumi re-sentenced – lesser sentence for Jamil Qaumi not warranted – sentence appeal of Jamil Qaumi dismissed. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – ss 18(1)(a), 24, 26, 29, 33(1)(b), 93G(1)(b), 93T(4A) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) – ss 3A, 21A, 53A, 54B(4), 61 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) – s 6(3) Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) – ss 25, 33(3)(a) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – ss 128, 164, 165 Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) – ss 4, 7(1) Cases Cited: Aouad v R; El-Zeyat v R (2011) 207 A Crim R 411; [2011] NSWCCA 61 AB v R [2014] NSWCCA 31 Battersby v R [2018] NSWCCA 141 Chamon v R [2020] NSWCCA 112 Darwiche v R; El-Zeyat v R; Aouad v R; Osman v R (2011) 209 A Crim R 424; [2011] NSWCCA 62 Dickson v R (2017) 94 NSWLR 476; [2017] NSWCCA 78 DL v The Queen (2018) 265 CLR 215; [2018] HCA 32 El-Zeyat v R; Aouad v R; Osman v R [2015] NSWCCA 196 Giang v R [2017] NSWCCA 25 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Libke v The Queen (2007) 230 CLR 559; [2007] HCA 30 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606; [1984] HCA 46 Green v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Kanaan and Ors v R [2006] NSWCCA 109 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 Maxwell v R [2020] NSWCCA 94 McAuliffe v The Queen (1995) 183 CLR 108; [1995] HCA 37 Mulato v R [2006] NSWCCA 282 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Pell v The Queen (2020) 94 ALJR 394; [2020] HCA 12 Portelli v R [2018] NSWCCA 28 R v Brooks [2012] NSWSC 505 R v Burnes [2007] NSWSC 298 R v Chandler; Chandler v R [2012] NSWCCA 135 R v Clark [2007] NSWSC 954 R v Clark (No 3) [2008] NSWSC 795 R v Darwiche and Ors [2006] NSWSC 1167 R v Farhad Qaumi; Mumtaz Qaumi and Jamil Qaumi (Sentence) [2017] NSWSC 774 R v FQ, Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW) 17 June 1998, unrep R v Kanaan and Ors [2002] NSWSC 774 R v May (No 7) [2008] NSWSC 971 R v NK (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 1257 R v Qaumi and Qaumi (No 12) [2017] NSWSC 134 R v Qaumi and Others (No 58) [2016] NSWSC 1158 R v Qaumi and Others (No 60) [2016] NSWSC 1160 R v Ryan and Coulter [2011] NSWSC 1249 Rae v R [2011] NSWCCA 211 SKA v The Queen (2011) 243 CLR 400; [2011] HCA 13 Sutton v R [2016] NSWCCA 249 Tepania v R (2018) 275 A Crim R 233; [2018] NSWCCA 247 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 Tiknius v R (2011) 221 A Crim R 365; [2011] NSWCCA 215 Tuivaga v R [2015] NSWCCA 145 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Farhad Aamad Qaumi – Applicant Mumtaz Ahmed Qaumi – Applicant Jamil Ahmad Qaumi – Applicant Regina – Respondent Crown Representation: Counsel: J Stratton SC/M Curry – Applicant Farhad Qaumi I Lloyd QC/N Carroll – Applicant Mumtaz Qaumi M Ramage QC/N Carroll – Applicant Jamil Qaumi E Balodis – Respondent Crown