R v Ferguson [2021] NSWDC 226

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Ferguson [2021] NSWDC 226 Hearing dates: 26 March 2021 Decision date: 09 April 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Haesler SC DCJ Decision: SENTENCE: Aggregate sentence of 3 years 4 months with a non- parole period of 2 years 1 month. PROCEEDS OF CRIME- forfeiture order $23,650 Catchwords: CRIME – possess prohibited firearm while subject to firearms prohibition order - Use unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm - Deal with property proceeds of crime under $100,000- possess ammunition CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — Back up and related offence – not guilty plea- Deal with property proceeds of crime under $100,000 - what is a reasonable suspicion - guilty verdict- reasonable grounds to suspect that the property was the proceeds of crime SENTENCING — Relevant factors on sentence — late guilty plea- offer to plea to similar facts rejected by prosecution in local court- level of utilitarian discount determined - underlying purpose of the early guilty plea scheme- related offence defended- application of sentencing principle- purposes of sentencing - need for individualised sentence – time in custody- evidence about the offender's background uncontroversial- unsworn evidence going to the objective circumstances of the offending of little value- offender's medical condition and problems obtaining treatment in custody - ill‑health can mitigate punishment - assistance by facilitating surrender of pistol SUMMARY HEARING:- Deal with property proceeds of crime under $100,000 - guilty verdict Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Firearms Act 1996 Firearms Act 1996 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Cases Cited: Anderson v R (1992) 62 A Crim R 277 Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58 Chen v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) [2011] NSWCCA 205 CMB v Attorney General NSW (2015) 256 CLR 346; [2015] HCA 9 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Ngo [2012] NSWSC 1521 Do v R [2010] NSWCCA 182 Edens v Clearly [1975} 1 NSWLR 278 Ex Parte Patmoy; Re Jack (1944) SR (NSW) 351 Forrest v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2020] NSWCA 162 George v Rocket (1990) 170 CLR 104; 93 ALR 483; 64 ALJR 384; 48 A Crim R 246 at 115 Grant v The Queen (1981) 147 CLR 503 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520 Hussein v Chong Fook Kam (1970) AC 942 Irwin V R [2019[ NSWCCA 133 Olbrich v The Queen (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v AZ (2011) 205 A Crim R R v Buckett (1994) 132 ALR 669 R v Ditmar [1973] NSWLR 722 R v English (1989) 17 NSWLR 149 R v JDX, JDX v R [2017] NSWCCA 9 R v Krstic [2005} NSWCCA 391 R v McKellar (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 106 R v Qutami [2001] NSWCCA 353 R v Zotti [2002] SASC 164; (2002) 82 SASR 554 Sumrein v R [2019] NSWCCA 83 The Queen v Grant (1981) 147 CLR 503 The Queen v Pham 2015) 256 CLR 550 [2015] HCA 39 Tran v R [2010] NSWCCA 183; [2010] NSWCCA 183 Texts Cited: Early Guilty Pleas: A New Ball Game, Ierace M., 4 April 2018, Public Defender Papers The Hon Attorney General NSW, 2nd Reading Speech, Justice Legislation Amendment (Committals and Guilty Pleas) Act 2017, Hansard, Legislative assembly, 11.10.17 page 10 Category: Sentence Parties: Derek Scott Ferguson (the offender) Director of Public Prosecutions Representation: Counsel: Mr D Dalton SC (for the offender) Ms N Keay, Crown Prosecutor