Tonga, Samuel v R [2023] NSWCCA 120

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Tonga, Samuel v R [2023] NSWCCA 120 Hearing dates: 8 May 2023 Date of orders: 29 May 2023 Decision date: 29 May 2023 Before: Basten AJA at [1]; Walton J at [54]; Hamill J at [58] Decision: (1) Grant the applicant leave to appeal from the sentence imposed in the District Court on 14 November 2022. (2) Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: SENTENCING – sentence of imprisonment – sentence of two years or less – consideration of intensive correction order – community safety as paramount consideration – assessment of risk of reoffending – describing intensive correction order as act of leniency – role of general deterrence Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 35 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 5, 7, 21A, 66, 67, 72, 73, 73A Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 (NSW), Pt 10, Div 2, cll 187, 189, 189A, 189B, 189C, 189D Cases Cited: Casella v R [2019] NSWCCA 201 House v R (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Mandranis v R [2021] NSWCCA 97; (2021) 289 A Crim R 260 R v Cahill [2015] NSWCCA 53 R v Fangaloka [2019] NSWCCA 173 Stanley v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2023) 97 ALJR 107; [2023] HCA 3 Zheng v R [2023] NSWCCA 64 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Samuel Tonga (Applicant) Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: G James AM KC / D Pace (Applicant) D Scully (Respondent)