R v McAlister [2021] NSWDC 541

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v McAlister [2021] NSWDC 541 Hearing dates: 21 September 2021 Date of orders: 29 September 2021 Decision date: 29 September 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Yehia SC DCJ Decision: The offender is convicted in respect of each offence. Taking into account a discount of 25% to reflect the utilitarian value of the plea, I set out the following indicative sentences: Count 1 – the offender is sentenced to imprisonment for 18 months. Count 2 – the offender is sentenced to imprisonment for 2 years and 6 months, with a non-parole period of 1 year and 4 months' imprisonment. Sequence 3 (on a section 166 Certificate) – the offender is sentenced to imprisonment for 9 months. Pursuant to s 53A of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), taking into account a finding of special circumstances, I impose an aggregate term of imprisonment of 3 years. I fix a non-parole period of 1 year and 6 months' imprisonment. The offender will be eligible for release at the expiration of the non-parole period. Catchwords: CRIME – reckless wounding – assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company SENTENCING – where a background of childhood deprivation and disadvantage operates to reduce moral culpability – whether a causal connection is required between the background of childhood deprivation and the commission of the offences – whether taking into account the Substance Use Disorder is contrary to the prohibition in s 21A(5AA). Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 59(2), 35(4) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 21A(5AA), 53A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Standard Non-Parole) Act 2013 (NSW) ss 54A, 54B Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571 Craft v R [2021] NSWCCA 131 DPP v Herrmann [2021] VSCA 160 Fisher v R [2021] NSWCCA 91 Kelley v R [2021] NSWCCA 173 Kliendienst v R [2020] NSWCCA 98 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25 McKinnon v R [2020] NSWCCA 106 McLaren v R [2012] NSWCCA 284 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120 Osborne v R [2015] NSWCCA 260 R v Merillo [2017] NSWCCA 173 R v Millwood [2012] NSWCCA 2 Rossall v R [2021] NSWCCA 200 Scott v R [2020] NSWCCA 81 Subramaniam V R [2013] NSWCCA 159 Tepania v R [2018] NSWCCA 247 Yun v R [2017] NSWCCA 317 Texts Cited: Zachary Weil, John Corrigan and Kate Karelina, 'Alcohol Abuse after Traumatic Brain Injury: Experimental and Clinical Evidence' (2016) 62 Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews 89-99. Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew McAlister (Offender) Director of Public Prosecutions (Crown) Representation: S McGee (Offender) K McCosker (Crown) File Number(s): 2020/000191025