R v RB [2022] NSWCCA 142

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v RB [2022] NSWCCA 142 Hearing dates: 28 February 2022 Date of orders: 29 June 2022 Decision date: 29 June 2022 Before: Harrison J [1]; Wright J [2]; Fagan J [3] Decision: (1) Allow the Crown appeal. (2) Quash the sentence passed in the District Court on 4 June 2021 in respect of count 2 being the offence of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child under the age of 16 contrary to s 66EA of the Crimes Act 1900. (3) Remit the proceedings to the District Court for rehearing with respect to sentence for count 2. (4) List the sentence proceedings in the District Court Newcastle on 7 July 2022 at 9.30am for allocation of a hearing date. (5) Dismiss the offender's application for leave to appeal against sentence Catchwords: CRIME – appeals – persistent sexual abuse of a child – nature of the offence – requirement that the unlawful sexual relationship be maintained – whether sentencing judge erred in sentencing the offender on the most favourable basis – effect of legislative reforms – significant questions of criminal culpability shifted from jury to judge – difficult fact-finding exercise on sentence – no unanimous jury finding on the underlying acts said to make up the relationship – sentencing judge bound to make own factual findings on uncertain evidence – error established – matter to be remitted to the District Court Legislation Cited: Commonwealth Constitution Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Code (Qld) Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Cases Cited: Burr v R [2020] NSWCCA 282 Cheatle v The Queen (1993) 177 CLR 541; [1993] HCA 44 Cheung v The Queen (2001) 209 CLR 1; [2001] HCA 67 Chiro v The Queen (2017) 260 CLR 425; [2017] HCA 37 Henry v The Queen [2022] SASCA 60 Gett v Tabet (2009) 254 ALR 504; [2009] NSWCA 76 Gould v R [2021] NSWCCA 92 Kable v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (1996) 189 CLR 51; [1996] HCA 60 KBT v The Queen (1997) 191 CLR 417; [1997] HCA 54 KMC v Director of Public Prosecutions (2020) 267 CLR 480; [2020] HCA 6 Park v R [2020] NSWCCA 90 R v Bain [1992] 1 SCR 91 R v CAZ [2011] QCA 231 R v Isaacs (1997) 41 NSWLR 374 S v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 266; [1989] HCA 66 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Xerri v R [2021] NSWCCA 268 XY v R (2013) 84 NSWLR 363; [2013] NSWCCA 121 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (applicant) RB (respondent) Representation: Counsel: H Roberts SC with C Curtis (applicant) S Odgers SC with S Kluss (respondent)