Green v R [2022] NSWCCA 230

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Green v R [2022] NSWCCA 230 Hearing dates: 05 September 2022 Date of orders: 25 October 2022 Decision date: 25 October 2022 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Harrison J at [2]; Hamill J at [3] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal against sentence. (2) Allow the appeal. (3) Quash the sentence imposed by the District Court on 25 May 2021 and in lieu thereof the applicant is sentenced to a non-parole period of 3 years commencing on 25 April 2020 and expiring on 24 April 2023 with a balance of term of 2 years and 8 months expiring on 24 December 2025. (4) The applicant will first become eligible for release to parole at the expiration of the non-parole period. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – application of early appropriate guilty plea provisions – prescriptive scheme for sentencing discounts – where instructions to plead guilty provided well in advance of trial – instructions communicated to prosecutor but not to court – arrangements not made for entry of plea 14 days before trial date – applicant not represented at pre-trial call-over – court notified of plea one day after 14 day cut off for larger sentencing discount – applicant's case fell between the cracks – material irregularity in sentencing proceedings – whether proceedings miscarried – whether practical injustice resulted – where prescriptive nature of provisions do not allow the appellate court to adjust level of discount – significant material tendered on the usual basis – lesser sentence warranted – applicant re-sentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 86(3) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 25, 25C, 25D, 25E, 25F, 44, Div 1A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 6(3) Cases Cited: AK v R [2022] NSWCCA 175 Ali v The Queen [2005] HCA 8; (2005) 79 ALJR 662 Betts v The Queen (2016) 258 CLR 420; [2016] HCA 25 Black v R [2022] NSWCCA 17 Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Christian v R [2021] NSWCCA 300 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Lehn v R (2016) 93 NSWLR 205; [2016] NSWCCA 255 Nudd v The Queen [2006] HCA 9; (2006) 162 A Crim R 301 R v Abbott (1985) 17 A Crim R 355 R v Abou-Chabake [2004] NSWCCA 356 R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677; (1990) 48 A Crim R 385 R v Diab [2005] NSWCCA 64 R v Green [2021] NSWDC 362 R v Guinness (a pseudonym) [2021] NSWDC 57 R v Lister [2021] NSWDC 132 R v Owen (a pseudonym) [2020] NSWDC 791 R v Tailford (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 695 Ratten v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 510; [1974] HCA 35 TKWJ v The Queen (2002) 212 CLR 124; [2002] HCA 46 Tsiakis v R [2015] NSWCCA 187 Zeiser v R [2020] NSWCCA 154 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Bradley Green Rex Representation: Counsel: T Ramrakha (Applicant) A Bonnor (Respondent)