C v R [2022] NSWCCA 285

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: C v R [2022] NSWCCA 285 Hearing dates: 11 July 2022 Date of orders: 16 December 2022 Decision date: 16 December 2022 Before: Bell CJ at [1] Mitchelmore JA at [2] Yehia J at [80] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Appeal allowed. (3) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court on 1 December 2020 (as corrected on 2 December 2020). (4) In lieu thereof, sentence the applicant to a term of imprisonment comprising a non-parole period of 3 years and 6 months, backdated to commence from 18 March 2020, with a balance of term of 2 years. (5) The effect is that the earliest date on which the applicant will be eligible for release to parole is 17 September 2023, with the balance of term expiring on 17 September 2025. Catchwords: CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – parity – criminal drug syndicate – manufacture large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine, contrary to Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act (NSW), s 24(2) – reckless dealing with proceeds of crime on Form 1 – motivation for offending to repair financial damage caused by others – whether justifiable sense of grievance in light of the sentence imposed on co-offenders Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 93T Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 5(1), 54A, 54D Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) ss 24(2), 33(3)(a) Cases Cited: DS v R [2014] NSWCCA 267 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Huckstadt v R [2016] NSWCCA 22 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Lewis v R [2021] NSWCCA 108 Lloyd v R [2017] NSWCCA 303 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606; [1984] HCA 46 Miles v R [2017] NSWCCA 266 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 Rodriego (a Pseudonym) v R [2021] NSWCCA 237 SF v R [2022] NSWCCA 216 SY v R [2020] NSWCCA 320 Young (pseudonym) v R [2021] NSWCCA 163 Z v R [2022] NSWCCA 286 Category: Principal judgment Parties: C (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms G Bashir SC and Ms R McMahon (Applicant) Ms M Kumar and Mr M Clark (Crown)