Wornes v R [2022] NSWCCA 184

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Wornes v R [2022] NSWCCA 184 Hearing dates: 8 April 2022 Date of orders: 26 August 2022 Decision date: 26 August 2022 Before: Simpson AJA at [1]; Hamill J at [2]; Ierace J at [49] Decision: (1) Application for leave to appeal granted. (2) Appeal allowed. (3) Confirm the orders made under s 10A of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 for the offences of contravening the apprehended domestic violence order. (4) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court for the offence under s 33 Crimes Act 1900 and in lieu thereof the applicant is sentenced to a non-parole period of 4 years commencing on 3 August 2019 and expiring on 2 August 2023 with a balance of term of 2 years expiring on 2 August 2025. (5) The applicant will be eligible for release to parole at the conclusion of the non-parole period. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – serious offences of domestic violence – relevance of psychiatric condition – personality disorder – whether subject to "De La Rosa principles" – where primary Judge decided "as a matter of law" principles not applicable – error established – where Judge determined lack of previous convictions "assumed less significance" due to nature of offences and recent history of domestic violence – error established – applicant resentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 33 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 10A, 21A(3)(e), 32, 33, 44(2) 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 6(3) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 166, 289D, 289F(1) Cases Cited: Abbas, Bodiotis, Taleb and Amoun v R [2013] NSWCCA 115; (2013) 231 A Crim R 413 Athos v R [2013] NSWCCA 205; (2013) 233 A Crim R 302 Attorney General's Application under s 37 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 No 1 of 2002 (2002) 56 NSWLR 146; [2002] NSWCCA 518 Brown v R (2020) 62 VR 491; [2020] VSCA 212 Davis v R [2015] NSWCCA 90 De Angelis v R [2015] NSWCCA 197 Decision restricted [2022] NSWCCA 24 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) v O'Neill (2015) 47 VR 395; [2015] VSCA 325 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Lloyd v R [2022] NSWCCA 18 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 R v Kennedy [2000] NSWCCA 527 R v Lawrence [2005] NSWCCA 91 R v Verdins (2007) 16 VR 269; [2007] VSCA 102 Turnbull v R [2019] NSWCCA 97 Texts Cited: American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV (4th ed, 2000, American Psychiatric Publishing) R Kinscherff, "Proposition: A Personality Disorder May Nullify Responsibility for a Criminal Act" (2010) 38(4) Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 745 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sandra Wornes (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K Averre (Applicant) M Kumar (Respondent)