R v Godfrey [2023] NSWSC 1312

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Godfrey [2023] NSWSC 1312 Hearing dates: 13 October 2023 Date of orders: 3 November 2023 Decision date: 03 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Cavanagh J Decision: For the manslaughter of Giuseppe Pagano at Haymarket on 4 April 2021, the offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 4 years and 9 months commencing on 4 April 2021 and expiring on 3 January 2026 with a non-parole period of 2 years and 10 months expiring on 3 February 2024. Catchwords: CRIME – SENTENCE – manslaughter on the basis of self-defence with excessive force – where offender applied choke hold – plea of guilty – difficult and traumatic upbringing – substance use disorder – strong prospects of rehabilitation – remorse demonstrated Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 18(1)(b), 421 Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW), s 25C Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A(g), 30E Cases Cited: BP v R (2010) 201 A Crim R 379; [2010] NSWCCA 159 Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Cheung v The Queen (2001) 209 CLR 1; [2001] HCA 67 Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Hoskins v R [2021] NSWCCA 169 Paterson v R [2021] NSWCCA 273 R v Bean [2022] NSWSC 783 R v Black (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 77 R v Blacklidge (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), Gleeson CJ, 12 December 1995, unrep) R v Borkowski (2009) 195 A Crim R 1; [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Davis [2021] NSWSC 235 R v Holmes (No 7) [2021] NSWSC 570 R v Isaacs (1997) 41 NSWLR 374 R v MD; R v BM; R v NA; R v JT (2005) 156 A Crim R 372; [2005] NSWCCA 342 R v Millwood [2012] NSWCCA 2 R v Previtera (1997) 94 A Crim R 76 R v Stanley (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 74 Veen v R (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Sentence Parties: Rex Connor Norman Godfrey Representation: Counsel: M Hay (Rex) M W Smith (Offender)