Zheng v R [2023] NSWCCA 64

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Zheng v R [2023] NSWCCA 64 Hearing dates: 4 April 2022 Date of orders: 22 March 2023 Decision date: 22 March 2023 Before: Gleeson JA at [1] Hamill J at [301] Ierace J at [306] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal against conviction and sentence. (2) Appeal against conviction dismissed. (3) Appeal against sentence allowed. (4) Set aside the sentence imposed by her Honour Payne DCJ on 21 May 2021. (5) In lieu, sentence Biyun Zheng to a term of imprisonment of one year and 10 months commencing on 22 March 2023 to be served by way of an Intensive Correction Order commencing on 22 March 2023 and expiring on 21 January 2025. (6) The Intensive Correction Order is subject to the following conditions: (a) the offender must not commit any offence; and (b) the offender must submit to supervision by a community service officer. (7) The applicant is to report on or before 5 April 2023 to the Parramatta office of Corrective Services NSW, or such other location as may be advised by the Commissioner for Corrective Services. Catchwords: CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against conviction — Unreasonable verdict — Judge alone trial — Whether judge's verdict was open upon the whole of the evidence CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against conviction — Whether failure to give sufficient reasons — Judge alone trial — Whether reasons for the verdict disclose a sufficient basis for findings of fact — Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 133(2) CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against sentence — sentence of imprisonment of 2 years 6 months with non-parole period of 10 months — Whether sentence manifestly excessive — Applicant resentenced — Whether appropriate sentence of 2 years imprisonment should be served by way of an ICO – Whether term of imprisonment to be served by way of ICO should be adjusted and reduced in recognition of period of pre-sentence custody Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 33(1)(a), 35(4), 418, 419 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 4A, 4B, 5, 7, 21A, 24, 47, 66, 68, 71, 72, 73, 73A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Sentencing Options) Act 2017 (NSW) Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 (NSW), reg 187 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), 133(2) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 38, 128 Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Byrne v R [2020] NSWCCA 218 Clarke-Jeffries v R [2019] NSWCCA 56 Dansie v The Queen [2022] HCA 25; (2022) 403 ALR 221 Dinsdale v R (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 DL v The Queen (2018) 266 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 26 DL v The Queen (2018) 265 CLR 215; [2018] HCA 32 DPP (Cth) v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194 Douglas v R [2012] HCA 34; (2012) 290 ALR 699 Elias v R [2006] NSWCCA 365 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Fleming v R (1998) 197 CLR 250; [1998] HCA 68 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Liberato v The Queen (1985) 159 CLR 507; [1985] HCA 66 Mandranis v R [2021] NSWCCA 97 Moodie v R [2020] NSWCCA 160 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 Obeid v R (2017) 96 NSWLR 155; [2017] NSWCCA 221 Oblach v R (2005) 65 NSWLR 75; [2005] NSWCCA 440 Quinn v Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions [2021] NSWCA 294 Rogers v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 251 RO v R [2019] NSWCCA 183 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Geebung [2020] NSWDC 546 R v Katarzynski [2002] NSWSC 613 R v Pullen [2018] NSWCCA 264 R v Zamagias [2002] NSWCCA 17 Sivaraja v R; Sivathas v R [2017] NSWCCA 236 Stanley v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2023] HCA 3 Turnbull v R [2019] NSWCCA 97 Wany v R (2020) 103 NSWLR 620; [2020] NSWCA 318 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Biyun Zheng (Applicant) Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T D Anderson SC (Applicant) G A Newton (Respondent)