Romeo v R [2020] NSWCCA 221

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Romeo v R [2020] NSWCCA 221 Hearing dates: 13 July 2020 Date of orders: 31 August 2020 Decision date: 31 August 2020 Before: Price J at [1] Garling J at [127] Wright J at [128] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal granted. (2) Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentence appeal – solicit to murder – whether error in the judge's assessment of the objective seriousness of the offence – whether the offence could fall within the mid-range of objective seriousness when no positive finding was made that he was the instigator – whether applicant's role in the planning of the offence was limited – whether sentence manifestly excessive – consideration of other cases Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 26 Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), s 79 Crimes (Personal and Domestic Violence) Act 2007 (NSW), s 13 Cases Cited: Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2; 88 ALJR 372; 305 ALR 323; 236 A Crim R 116 Benitez v R [2006] NSWCCA 21; 160 A Crim R 166 Efthimiadis v R (No 2) [2016] NSWCCA 9 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45; 85 ALJR 195; 272 ALR 465; 204 A Crim R 434 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40; 10 ALJ 22; 10 ALJR 202; 55 ALR 499 Louizos v R [2014] NSWCCA 242 Louizos v R; R v Louizos [2009] NSWCCA 71; 194 A Crim R 223 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25; 79 ALJR 1048; 215 ALR 213 Mulato v R [2006] NSWCCA 282 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39; 85 ALJR 1154; 281 ALR 652; 212 A Crim R 254 Obeid v R (2017) 96 NSWLR 155; [2017] NSWCCA 221; 350 ALR 103 R v Afu; R v Caleo (No 17) [2018] NSWSC 1127 R v Baker [2017] NSWCCA 233 R v Baker [2019] NSWCCA 58 R v Hamide [2018] NSWDC 172 Rahman v R [2020] NSWCCA 13 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64; 76 ALJR 79; 185 ALR 233 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Nicola Romeo (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Boulten SC (Applicant) Mr F Veltro (Respondent)