Bhatia v R [2023] NSWCCA 12

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Bhatia v R [2023] NSWCCA 12 Hearing dates: 23 September 2022 Date of orders: 10 February 2023 Decision date: 10 February 2023 Before: Beech-Jones CJ at CL at [1]; Hamill J at [17]; N Adams J at [155] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal against the conviction. (2) Dismiss the appeal against conviction. (3) Grant leave to appeal against the sentence. (4) Allow the appeal against sentence. (5) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court on 3 September 2021 and in lieu thereof, the applicant is sentenced to a non-parole period of 5 years and 3 months commencing on 14 October 2019 and expiring on 13 January 2025 with an additional term (balance of parole) of 2 years and 9 months expiring on 13 October 2027. (6) The applicant will be eligible for release to parole at the expiration of the non-parole period. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – conviction appeal – whether verdicts inconsistent – unreasonable verdicts – test of logic and reasonableness – review of the whole of the evidence and whole of the trial record CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – good character – whether able to be taken into account in child sexual assault – section 21A(5A) Sentencing Procedure Act 1999 (NSW) – whether Judge erred in not taking good character into account Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61HA, 66A(1) Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act 2008 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A(3)(e), 21A(3)(f), 21A(5A), 44, Table to Div 1A Cases Cited: AH v R [2015] NSWCCA 51 Booth v R [2022] NSWCCA 113 BR v R [2021] NSWCCA 279 Collins v R [2020] NSWCCA 198 Curran v R [2020] NSWCCA 171 Dadley v R [2021] NSWCCA 267 Decision restricted [2022] NSWCCA 24 Ganiji v R [2019] NSWCCA 208 GG v R [2018] NSWCCA 280 Jones v The Queen (1997) 191 CLR 439; [1997] HCA 56 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; (1994) HCA 63 Mackenzie v The Queen (1996) 190 CLR 348; [1996] HCA 35 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 Norris v The Queen [2007] NSWCCA 235; 176 A Crim R 42 O'Brien v R [2013] NSWCCA 197 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 R v DSM [2021] NSWDC 283 R v Duncan [2022] NSWDC 543 R v Flax [2014] NSWDC 268 R v Markuleski (2001) 52 NSWLR 82; [2001] NSWCCA 290 R v NC [2020] NSWDC 547 R v Sanchez [2021] NSWDC 561 R v Stoupe [2015] NSWCCA 175 R v TK (2009) 74 NSWLR 299; [2009] NSWCCA 151 Saunders v R [2022] NSWCCA 273 Thomas v R [2019] NSWCCA 265 TK v The Queen [2009] HCATrans 290 Zahab v R [2021] NSWCCA 7 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 26 November 2008 at 11707 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kshetiz Bhatia (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Moutasallem (Applicant) E Wilkins SC (Respondent)