Nealon v R [2021] NSWCCA 286

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Nealon v R [2021] NSWCCA 286 Hearing dates: 13 October 2021 Decision date: 06 December 2021 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Fullerton J at [52]; R A Hulme J at [53]. Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal against sentence – aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death – whether sentence manifestly excessive – applicable principles – necessity of inferring error of principle – use of sentencing statistics – need to adjust applicant's sentence following trial to compare with sentences following guilty plea – limitations of comparable cases – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Bail Act 1978 (NSW), s 51(2) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 52A(2) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Sentencing Options) Act 2017 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1)(c) Cases Cited: Bombardieri v R [2010] NSWCCA 161; 203 A Crim R 89 Conte v R [2018] NSWCCA 209 Director of Public Prosecutions v Abdulrahman [2021] NSWCCA 114 Hall v The Queen [2021] NSWCCA 220 Hei Hei v R; R v Hei Hei [2009] NSWCCA 87 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Kane v R [2021] NSWCCA 250 Lehn v R (2016) 93 NSWLR 205; [2016] NSWCCA 255 Norouzi v R [2020] NSWCCA 237 Obeid v R (2017) 96 NSWLR 155; [2017] NSWCCA 221 R v Blacklidge (NSWCCA, unreported, 12 December 1995) R v Bortic [2021] NSWCCA 138 R v Loveridge [2014] NSWCCA 120; 243 A Crim R 31 R v Meakin [2019] NSWSC 1555 R v Shashati [2018] NSWCCA 167 R v Wright [2013] NSWCCA 82 Smith v R [2011] NSWCCA 290 Tabbah v R [2019] NSWCCA 324 Williams v R [2012] NSWCCA 286; 229 A Crim R 67 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Patrick Paul Nealon (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Stratton SC (Applicant) G Newton (Respondent)