Z v R [2022] NSWCCA 286

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Z v R [2022] NSWCCA 286 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 [76]. Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Appeal allowed. (3) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court on 2 December 2020. (4) In lieu thereof, sentence the applicant to a term of imprisonment comprising a non-parole period of 3 years, backdated to commence from 2 December 2020, with a balance of term of 3 years. (5) The effect is that the earliest date on which the applicant will be eligible for release to parole is 1 December 2023, with the balance of term to expire on 1 December 2026. 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) – participate in criminal ground contrary to Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 93T(1) – where cystic fibrosis "fundamental to subjective case" – whether justifiable sense of grievance in light of the sentence imposed on co-offenders Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 93T(1) 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: Awraham v R (Cth) [2021] NSWCCA 241 C v R [2022] NSWCCA 285 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 R v Edwards (1996) 90 A Crim R 510 Rodriego (a Pseudonym) v R [2021] NSWCCA 237 SF v R [2022] NSWCCA 216 Young (pseudonym) v R [2021] NSWCCA 163 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Z (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Chhabra and Ms C Brain (Applicant) Ms M Kumar and Mr M Clark (Crown)