Al-Kutobi and Kiad v R [2023] NSWCCA 155

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Al-Kutobi and Kiad v R [2023] NSWCCA 155 Hearing dates: 3 April 2023 Decision date: 26 June 2023 Before: Kirk JA at [1]; Button J at [2]; Hamill J at [97] Decision: 1) Leave to appeal against sentence granted, and appeal upheld. 2) The sentence imposed on 9 December 2016 is quashed. 3) In substitution, each applicant is sentenced to a head sentence of imprisonment of 16 years, to commence on 10 February 2015, and expire on 9 February 2031, with a non-parole period of 12 years to expire on 9 February 2027. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal – sentence appeal – whether sentencing judge failed to take into account the utilitarian value of the applicants' pleas of guilty for a Commonwealth offence – consideration of possible "Xiao error" – sentencing discretion exercised afresh – purposes of sentencing for terrorism offences – role of renunciation and rehabilitation – post-sentence evidence over many years favourable to applicants – lesser sentence warranted – appeal allowed – original sentences quashed – applicants resentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) The Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Cases Cited: Benbrika v R (2010) 29 VR 593; [2010] VSCA 281 Betts v The Queen (2016) 258 CLR 420; [2016] HCA 25 Cameron v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 339; [2002] HCA 6 Diaz v R [2019] NSWCCA 216 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Ali [2020] VSCA 330 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Besim [2017] VSCA 158 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Gow (2015) 252 A Crim R 573; [2015] NSWCCA 208 DPP (Cth) v MHK (a Pseudonym) (No1) (2017) 52 VR 272; [2017] VSCA 157 Garcia-Godos v R [2021] NSWCCA 229 IM v R (2019) 100 NSWLR 110; [2019] NSWCCA 107 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Khalid v R [2020] NSWCCA 73 Lodhi v R (2007) 179 A Crim R 470; [2007] NSWCCA 360 R v Al-Kutobi; R v Kiad [2016] NSWSC 1760 R v Bayda; R v Namoa (No 8) [2019] NSWSC 24 Smith v R [2020] NSWCCA 181 Tyler v The Queen (2007) 173 A Crim R 458; [2007] NSWCCA 247 Xiao v R (2018) 96 NSWLR 1; [2018] NSWCCA 4 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Omar Al-Kutobi and Mohammad Kiad (Appellants) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Wilson SC (Appellants) S Flood (Respondent)