Taha v R [2022] NSWCCA 46

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Taha v R [2022] NSWCCA 46 Hearing dates: 17 September 2021 Date of orders: 4 March 2022 Decision date: 04 March 2022 Before: McCallum JA at [1] Walton J at [3] Fullerton J at [85] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal and allow the appeal against sentence with respect to the aggregate sentence imposed. (2) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court on 5 November 2020. (3) In lieu thereof, the applicant is sentenced to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 4 years from 5 November 2020, with a non-parole period of 2 years and 3 months from 5 November 2020. Catchwords: CRIME — appeals — appeal against sentence —sentencing judge erred in the consideration of pre-sentence custody – applicant's borderline intellectual functioning – moral culpability – understanding of offending – re-sentence – independent exercise of discretion – findings on objective seriousness at first instance – applicant's subjective factors – applicant's mental condition – dietary considerations – hardships – conditions in custody – COVID-19 – rat infestation – objective gravity of offending – general deterrence – special circumstances – sentence quashed – aggregate term of imprisonment imposed Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 2012 (NSW) Cases Cited: AB v R [2014] NSWCCA 31 Aslan v R [2014] NSWCCA 114 Betts v The Queen (2016) 258 CLR 420; [2016] HCA 25 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Douar v The Queen [2005] NSWCCA 455; (2005) 159 A Crim R 154 Doudar v R [2021] NSWCCA 37 Elchiekh v R [2016] NSWCCA 225 House v R (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Jackson v R [2021] NSWCCA 15 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Lehn v R (2016) 93 NSWLR 205; [2016] NSWCCA 255 R v Delaney (2003) 59 NSWLR 1; [2003] NSWCCA 342 R v Douihi [2000] NSWCCA 521 R v Matthews [2004] NSWCCA 112; (2004) 145 A Crim R 445 R v Newman; R v Simpson [2004] NSWCCA 102; (2004) 145 A Crim R 361 R v Nykolyn [2003] NSWCCA 229 R v Wright (1997) 93 A Crim R 48 R v Youkhana [2005] NSWCCA 231 RO v R [2019] NSWCCA 183 Sutton v R [2016] NSWCCA 249 Turnbull v R [2019] NSWCCA 97 Young (a pseudonym) v R [2021] NSWCCA 163 Zaky v R(Cth) [2017] NSWCCA 141 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ahmed Taha (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Chhabra (Applicant) Ms E Wilkins SC (Respondent)