R v Watson (No 3) [2022] NSWSC 1693

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Watson (No 3) [2022] NSWSC 1693 Hearing dates: 5-9, 12-15, 19, 21, 23 and 26 September 2022, 1 December 2022 Supplementary written submissions received on 6 and 7 December 2022 Date of orders: 14 December 2022 Decision date: 14 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Walton J Decision: (1) The offender, Paul Anthony Watson, is convicted of the murder of William Chaplin. (2) The offender is sentenced to a non-parole period of 16 years and 9 months, commencing on 14 January 2022 and expiring on 13 October 2038. (3) The balance of term shall be for 7 years and 3 months, commencing on 14 October 2038 and expiring on 13 January 2046. (4) The offender will be eligible for release on parole at the expiry of the non-parole period on 13 October 2038. Catchwords: CRIME – sentence after trial by jury – verdict of guilty – murder – elements of murder – post-trial fact-finding – principal in the first degree – intention to kill – objective seriousness – whether offender used a weapon – whether provocation established – absence of motivation – whether offence committed in company – whether committed in deceased's home – reliability of Crown witnesses – mid-range of offending – subjective factors – no evidence of remorse – very guarded prospects of rehabilitation – serious criminal history – need for general and personal deterrence – pre-sentence custody for Victorian offences – whether appropriate to backdate and serve concurrently – impact of COVID-19 – delay – victim impact statement – parity – special circumstances – sentenced to a term of imprisonment – consideration of Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 21A(2)(c), 21A(2)(e), 21A(2)(ea), 21A(2)(n), 21A(3)(c), 21B Legislation Cited: Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW), s 25C Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 12, 21, 21A, 21A(2)(c), 21A(2)(e), 21A(2)(ea), 21A(2)(n), 21A(3)(c), 21B, 35, 44, 54D, 55, 61; Schedule 2 cls 51, 95 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment Act 2022 (NSW) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 18, 19A, 23, 61 Crimes Amendment (Reckless Infliction of Harm) Act 2012 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 165 Jury Act 1977 (NSW), ss 53B, 53C, 55G Cases Cited: Alesbhi v R [2018] NSWCCA 30 BIP v R [2011] NSWCCA 224 Cabezuela v R [2020] NSWCCA 107 Charbaji v R [2019] NSWCCA 28 Chen v R [2013] NSWCCA 116 Cheung v The Queen (2001) 209 CLR 1; [2001] HCA 67 Colledge v State of Western Australia [2007] WASCA 211 DPP (Vic) v England [1999] 2 VR 258; [1999] VSCA 95 Fahs v R [2007] NSWCCA 26 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Gore v R (2010) 208 A Crim R 353; [2010] NSWCCA 330 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Katsis v R [2018] NSWCCA 9 KT v R (2008) 182 A Crim R 571; [2008] NSWCCA 51 Louizos v R (2009) 194 A Crim R 223; [2009] NSWCCA 71 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 McLaughlin v R [2013] NSWCCA 152 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 R v Barbetta [2008] NSWSC 688 R v BDX (2008) 24 VR 288; [2009] VSCA 28 R v Blanco (1999) 106 A Crim R 303; [1999] NSWCCA 121 R v Borg [2010] NSWSC 951 R v Campbell [2010] NSWSC 995 R v Chen [2010] NSWSC 64 R v Dawson [2022] NSWSC 1632 R v Fahda [2012] NSWSC 114 R v Halloun [2014] NSWSC 1705 R v Harwood [2019] NSWSC 1695 R v Hearne (2001) 124 A Crim R 451; [2001] NSWCCA 37 R v Heffernan [2005] NSWSC 739 R v Hickson (No 4) [2020] NSWSC 340 R v Hines (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 1273 R v Holcroft [2010] NSWSC 1294 R v Huang (2000) 113 A Crim R 386; [2000] NSWCCA 238 R v Hull (1989) 16 NSWLR 385 R v Isaacs (1997) 41 NSWLR 374 R v Jarad Smith [2016] NSWCCA 75 R v Katsis [2015] NSWSC 1890 R v Knight (2006) 164 A Crim R 126; [2006] NSWCCA 292 R v Kwon [2010] NSWSC 671 R v Lechmana [2010] NSWSC 849 R v Lowe [1997] 2 VR 465 R v Lulham (2016) 263 A Crim R 287; [2016] NSWCCA 287 R v MAK & MSK (2006) 167 A Crim R 159; [2006] NSWCCA 381 R v O'Sullivan [2010] NSWSC 755 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Potts [2010] NSWSC 731 R v Schultz (1997) 68 SASR 377 R v Scott [2005] NSWCCA 152 R v Spathis; R v Patsalis [2001] NSWCCA 476 R v Tatchell and Wildsmith [2010] NSWSC 495 R v Taylor (No 2) (2008) 18 VR 613; [2008] VSCA 57 R v Tongahai [2010] NSWSC 227 R v Tuala (2015) 248 A Crim R 502; [2015] NSWCCA 8 R v Ward [2010] NSWSC 304 R v Washbrook [2019] NSWSC 1143 R v Watson (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1243 R v Wilkinson (No 5) [2009] NSWSC 432 R v Yeo [2003] NSWSC 315 R v Yuke [2010] NSWSC 754 R v ZT [2022] NSWSC 511 Sumpton v R [2016] NSWCCA 162 Taha v R [2022] NSWCCA 46 TJ v R (2009) 76 NSWLR 167; [2009] NSWCCA 257 Toller v R [2021] NSWCCA 204 Versluys v R [2008] NSWCCA 76 Watson v R [2022] NSWCCA 208 White v R (2016) 261 A Crim R 302; [2016] NSWCCA 190 Williams v R [2010] NSWCCA 15 Yeung v R [2018] NSWCCA 52 Texts Cited: NSW Public Defenders, "Murder: 2010" (accessed 5 December 2022) NSW Judicial Commission, Sentencing Bench Book (accessed 8 December 2022) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rex (Crown) Paul Anthony Watson (Offender) Representation: Counsel: P Kerr and A Dixon (Crown) J Agius SC (Offender)