Hitchen v R [2023] NSWCCA 51

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hitchen v R [2023] NSWCCA 51 Hearing dates: 20 April 2022 Date of orders: 14 December 2022 Decision date: 14 December 2022 Before: Simpson AJA at [1] Harrison J at [117] Fagan J at [118] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal against sentence granted; 2. Appeal allowed, sentence imposed in the District Court on 3 August 2020 quashed; 3. The applicant be sentenced to an aggregate term of imprisonment for 6 years and 6 months commencing on 11 October 2018 and expiring on 10 April 2025 with a non-parole period of 4 years and 2 months which expired on 10 October 2022. 4. The applicant is eligible for release on parole. Catchwords: CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – knowingly take part in supply of prohibited drug – conspiracy to manufacture prohibited drug – low purity of drug - relevance to objective seriousness – no evidence of standard purity of methylamphetamine – no error CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – manifest excess – parity considerations – dramatic differences in charges faced by co-offenders – stark differences in sentencing outcomes – appeal allowed – resentencing SENTENCING – appeal against sentence – limited weight given to evidence of remorse and contrition where offender did not give evidence in sentencing proceedings – proper exercise of sentencing discretion – no error SENTENCING – appeal against sentence – non-parole period – error regarding application of inapplicable non-parole period conceded – whether conspiracy offences are subject to a non-parole period – no need to determine issue Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 19A, 26, 193B Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 7, 21A, 25D, 44, 53A, 166, Pt 3 Div 3, Pt 4 Div 1A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Standard Minimum Term) Act 2002 (NSW), Sch 1 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) Firearms Act 1996 (NSW), ss 7A, 39 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 34 Cases Cited: Alvares v R [2011] NSWCCA 33 Butters v R [2010] NSWCCA 1 D A C v R [2006] NSWCCA 265 El Kheir v R [2019] NSWCCA 288 Hitchen v R [2021] NSWCCA 293 IM v R (2019) 100 NSWLR 110; [2019] NSWCCA 107 Imbormone v R [2017] NSWCCA 144 Markarian v The Queen (2006) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Meis v R [2022] NSWCCA 118 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Pfitzner v R [2010] NSWCCA 314 R v Edwards (1996) 90 A Crim R 510 R v Ohar (2004) 59 NSWLR 596; [2004] NSWCCA 83 R v Palu [2002] NSWCCA 381; (2002) 134 A Crim R 174 R v Qutami [2001] NSWCCA 353; (2001) 127 A Crim R 369 R v Stafrace (1997) 96 A Crim R 452 TS v R [2007] NSWCCA 194 Vaiusu v R [2017] NSWCCA 71 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ross Hitchen (Applicant) The Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Kent (Applicant)