R v Stefanac [2022] NSWCCA 129

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Stefanac [2022] NSWCCA 129 Hearing dates: 16 May 2022 Date of orders: 17 June 2022 Decision date: 17 June 2022 Before: Beech-Jones CJ at CL at [1]; Hamill J at [2]; N Adams J at [44]. Decision: (1) Crown appeal allowed. (2) The aggregate sentence imposed by Judge English on 22 September 2021 is quashed; in lieu thereof, the respondent is sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 12 years' imprisonment to commence on 21 July 2020 and expire on 20 July 2032 with an aggregate non-parole period of 7 years to expire on 20 July 2027. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentence – prosecution appeal against inadequacy – sexual offending against two children – whether judge failed to apply standard non-parole period – use of word "depart" or "departure" from standard non-parole period – whether indicative of error – aggregate sentence – where indicative sentences significantly below standard non-parole period – whether indicative of error CIRMINAL LAW – sentencing – totality and proportionality – whether Judge erred in application of totality principle – whether sentence reflected the criminality against separate victims and in separate time frames – whether sentence manifestly inadequate as a result – (by majority) aggregate sentence increased – totality principle – notional accumulation within aggregate sentence Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 44, 53A, 54A, 54B, 54C Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 66C, 66DB, 578A Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW) s 15A Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Bustescu v R [2020] NSWCCA 113 Cahyadi v Regina [2007] NSWCCA 1; 168 A Crim R 41 CMB v The Attorney-General for New South Wales [2015] 317 ALR 308; [2015] HCA 9 Culbert v R [2021] NSWCCA 38 DBW v R [2007] NSWCCA 236 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 GP v R [2016] NSWCCA 150 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Hunter v R [2020] NSWCCA 285 JM v R [2014] NSWCCA 297; 246 A Crim R 528 Mbele v R [2021] NSWCCA 182 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Nguyen v The Queen (2016) 256 CLR 656; [2016] HCA 17 at [64]. Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Power v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 623 at 628; [1974] HCA 26 R v Gavel [2014] NSWCCA 56 R v MAK: R v MSK [2006] NSWCCA 381; (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 R v McKenzie [2022] NSWCCA 119 R v Nelson [2016] NSWCCA 130 R v Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704; [2001] NSWCCA 297 Ryan v R [2019] NSWCCA 200 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (Appellant) Brandon Branko Stefanac (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: E Balodis (Appellant) T Quilter (Respondent)