Baines v Rex [2023] NSWCCA 302

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Baines v Rex [2023] NSWCCA 302 Hearing dates: 9 March 2023 Date of orders: 29 November 2023 Decision date: 29 November 2023 Before: Simpson AJA at [1]; Dhanji J at [110]; McNaughton J at [154] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal against conviction granted; 2. Appeal against conviction dismissed; 3. Leave to appeal against sentence granted; 4. Appeal allowed; sentence imposed in the Supreme Court on 17 December 2021 quashed; 5. In lieu thereof Joshua Baines is sentenced to imprisonment consisting of a non-parole period of 22 years and 6 months commencing on 29 November 2018 and expiring on 28 May 2041 and a balance of term of 7 years and 6 months which will expire on 28 November 2048. Catchwords: CRIME – appeals – appeal against conviction – circumstantial case – whether trial judge's directions in response to jury question gave rise to miscarriage of justice – jury directed that there was no evidence to support a particular inference inconsistent with the Crown case but consistent with guilt – direction a proper reflection of evidentiary position – no misdirection established CRIME – appeals – appeal against sentence – murder – relevance in sentencing proceedings of generalised research on effects of background of disadvantage – Bugmy Bar Book – relevance of background of disadvantage to sentencing for serious offending – appeal allowed – offender resentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 7 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5, 6 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 160(2) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 4, 184 Cases Cited: Barca v The Queen (1975) 133 CLR 82; [1975] HCA 42 Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Cawthray v R [2013] NSWCCA 105 Dean v R [2019] NSWCCA 27 Edmonds v R [2022] NSWCCA 103 Hamilton v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2020) 287 A Crim R 268; [2020] NSWSC 1745 Honeysett v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 122; [2014] HCA 29 Johnson v Miller (1937) 59 CLR 467; [1937] HCA 77 Kaliyanda v R [2007] NSWCCA 300 Kennedy [v R [2010] NSWCCA 260] Kentwell v R (No 2) [2015] NSWCCA 96 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 King v The Queen (1986) 161 CLR 423; [1986] HCA 59 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 KRM v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 221; [2001] HCA 11 Lang v The Queen [2023] HCA 29 McLeod v Regina [2008] NSWCCA 127 Munda v Western Australia (2013) 249 CLR 600; [2013] HCA 38 Perkins v R [2018] NSWCCA 62 R v Bourchas [2002] NSWCCA 373; (2002) 133 A Crim R 413 R v Danishyar [2023] NSWCCA 300 R v Fernando (1992) 76 A Crim R 58 R v Henry (1999) 46 NSWLR 346; [1999] NSWCCA 111 R v Lewis [2014] NSWSC 1127 R v McIntyre (2000) 111 A Crim R 211; [2000] NSWCCA 6 R v Tsingolas [2022] NSWDC 34 R v VHP (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 7 July 1997, unrep) Ratten v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 510; [1974] HCA 35 Regina v Hughes [2000] NSWCCA 3 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 Texts Cited: The Public Defenders (NSW), The Bugmy Bar Book, <https://www.publicdefenders.nsw.gov.au/barbook/>, accessed 21 November 2023 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Joshua Baines (Applicant) The Crown Representation: Counsel: T Woods (Applicant) G Newton SC (Crown)