Xerri v R [2021] NSWCCA 268

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Xerri v R [2021] NSWCCA 268 Hearing dates: 21 July 2021 Date of orders: 12 November 2021 Decision date: 12 November 2021 Before: Bell P at [1]; Price J at [2]; Hamill J [141] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal granted. 2. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal against sentence – s 66EA(1) maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child – unlawful sexual acts committed prior to the repeal of the predecessor offence – Ground 1 whether maximum penalty for the offence was life imprisonment or 25 years imprisonment – whether intent of legislation was to operate retrospectively – whether s 19(1) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act (CSP Act) applies – whether s 66EA was enacted as a new offence – consideration of differences between predecessor offence and current offence – consideration of s 25AA(4) CSP Act – whether the intent of the Parliament is clear from text of the offence – consideration of Second Reading Speech – Ground 1 dismissed by majority CRIMINAL LAW – whether error in imposing sentence for s 166 related offence first – whether error in accumulation – Ground 2 dismissed by the Court CRIMINAL LAW – whether sentence manifestly excessive – Ground 3 dismissed by majority Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 66EA Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 4F(2), 29D, 86(2) and 86A Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW), s 14(1) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 19, 25AA, 58 Crimes (Sexual Assault) Amendment Act 1981 (NSW), s 61D(1) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 12(2) Criminal Code (Cth), s 135.4 Criminal Legislation Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse) Act 2018 (NSW) Criminal Legislation Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse) Bill 2018 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 166, 168(3) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 23(1)(b), 34(1)(a), 34(2)(f) New South Wales Commencement Proclamation, No 671, 30 November 2018 Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Beckwith v the Queen (1976) 135 CLR 569; [1976] HCA 55 Burr v R [2020] NSWCCA 282; 285 A Crim R 504 Corliss v R [2020] NSWCCA 65 Esso Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (2017) 350 ALR 404; [2017] HCA 54 Grajewski v DPP (NSW) [2017] NSWCCA 251 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 K & S Lake City Freighters Pty Ltd v Gordon & Gotch Ltd (1985) 157 CLR 309; [1985] HCA 48 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 MC v R [2017] NSWCCA 316; (2017) 271 A Crim R 83 Moon v R [2000] NSWCCA 534; (2000) 117 A Crim R 497 Palace Gallery Pty Ltd v Workcover Premium Review Panel (2014) 119 SASR 408; [2014] SASFC 60 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v MJR (2002) 54 NSWLR 368; [2002] NSWCCA 129 R v Ronen [2006] NSWCCA 123; (2006) 161 A Crim R 300 Raymond John Munro v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 350; Paul Campbell v R [2018] NSWCCA 87 Re Bolton; Ex Parte Beane (1987) 162 CLR 514; [1987] HCA 12 Siganto v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 656; [1998] HCA 74 Stevens v Kabushiki Kaisha Sony Computer Entertainment (2005) 224 CLR 193; [2005] HCA 58 Woodward v R [2017] NSWCCA 44 Texts Cited: Dennis Pearce, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (9th ed, 2019, LexisNexis Butterworths) New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Second Reading Speech, Criminal Legislation Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse) Bill 2018 (NSW) (Hansard), 6 June 2018 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Criminal Justice Report (August 2017) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Brian Xerri (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Rodger (Applicant) E Balodis (Respondent)