Bentley v R; Davies v R; Thomas v R; Tilley v R [2021] NSWCCA 18

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Bentley v R; Davies v R; Thomas v R; Tilley v R [2021] NSWCCA 18 Hearing dates: 31 July 2020 Decision date: 26 February 2021 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; N Adams J at [224]; Ierace J at [235] Decision: (1) Grant the applicants leave to appeal. (2) Allow the appeal. (3) Quash the sentences imposed on each applicant and in lieu thereof impose the following sentences: (a) For the offence of supply commercial quantity of methylamphetamine contrary to s 25(2) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) taking into account in the cases of the appellants Bentley, Thomas and Tilley the offences on the Form 1 impose a sentence of a non-parole period of imprisonment of two years commencing on 3 September 2015 and expiring on 2 September 2017 with a balance of term of one year expiring on 2 September 2018. (b) For the offence of concealing a corpse impose a sentence of a fixed term of imprisonment of three years commencing on 3 September 2016 and expiring on 2 September 2019. (c) For the manslaughter of Brendan Vollmost on 31 March 2015 impose a sentence consisting of a non-parole period of imprisonment of seven years commencing on 3 September 2018 and expiring on 2 September 2025 with a balance of term of five years expiring on 2 September 2030. Catchwords: CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – re-sentence – accumulation of sentence – special circumstances – whether sentencing judge erred in variation of statutory ratio CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – conceal corpse – objective seriousness – whether sentencing judge erred in his determination that the applicants knew of the location of the deceased's body but failed to disclose it – remorse – whether sentencing judge erred in his rejection of remorse CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – manifest excess – manslaughter – conceal corpse – objective seriousness of offences Legislation Cited: Coroners Act 2009 (NSW) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) Cases Cited: AB v R [2014] NSWCCA 339 Azzopardi v R [2019] NSWCCA 306 Bugmy v R (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Calhoun (a pseudonym) v R [2018] NSWCCA 150 Clarke v R [2015] NSWCCA 232; (2015) 254 A Crim 150 Dawson v R [2013] NSWCCA 61 Deakin v The Queen (1984) 58 ALJR 367; [1984] HCA 31 Elwood v R [2019] NSWCCA 315 GP v R [2017] NSWCCA 200 Green v R; Quinn v R (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Hili v R (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hordern v R [2019] NSWCCA 138; (2019) 278 A Crim R 353) Johnson v R [2010] NSWCCA 124 Kliendienst v R [2020] NSWCCA 98 Lloyd v R [2017] NSWCCA 303 Lowe v R (1984) 154 CLR 606; [1984] HCA 46 Mulato v R [2006] NSWCCA 282 Pham v R [2010] NSWCCA 208 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 Power v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 623; [1974] HCA 26 R v Aljubouri [2019] NSWSC 180 R v Bryant [1999] NSWCCA 181 R v Davis (1942) 42 SR (NSW) R v Forbes [2005] NSWCCA 377; (2005) 160 A Crim R 1 R v Heffernan (1951) 69 WN (NSW) 125 R v JW (2010) 77 NSWLR 7; [2010] NSWCCA 49 R v Lavender (2005) 222 CLR 67; [2005] HCA 37 R v Merrick (No 5) [2016] NSWSC 661 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Simpson (1992) 61 A Crim R 58 Ramos v R [2015] NSWCCA 313 Sabongi v R [2015] NSWCCA 25; (2015) 249 A Crim R 167 Spark v R [2012] NSWCCA 140 Wong v R (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Proceedings 2015/00258433 Mitchell Bentley (Applicant) The Crown (Respondent)