R v MJ [2023] NSWCCA 306

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v MJ [2023] NSWCCA 306 Hearing dates: 18 September 2023 Date of orders: 30 November 2023 Decision date: 30 November 2023 Before: Simpson AJA at [1]; Price J at [18]; Davies J at [150] Decision: (1) Director's appeal allowed. (2) The sentence imposed by Grant DCJ in the District Court of New South Wales on 19 May 2023 is quashed. (3) In lieu thereof, the respondent is sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment consisting of a non-parole period of 4 years commencing on 21 December 2023 and expiring on 20 December 2027 with a balance of term of 2 years commencing on 21 December 2027 and expiring on 20 December 2029. (4) The earliest date that the respondent will be eligible to be released on parole is 20 December 2027. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – Crown appeal – sexual intercourse with a 10 year old child – offence on Form 1 – respondent serving an aggregate sentence for domestic violence offences – concession by respondent that sentence was manifestly inadequate when the degree of concurrence with existing sentence was taken into account – whether sentence for the offence was manifestly inadequate – whether sentencing judge had taken into account specific deterrence, protection of society and denunciation – whether error in consideration of JIRS statistics – whether error in consideration of JIRS starting date of sentence – residual discretion – resentence – assessment of objective seriousness – consideration of moral culpability – respondent's deprived background – whether causal link between deprived background and offending – whether causal link necessary – mental health – approach to totality – appeal allowed Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 66C(1), 66DD(a) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 25AA(3) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5D Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney General's Application under s 37 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 No 1 of 2002 (2002) 56 NSWLR 146; 137 A Crim R 180; [2002] NSWCCA 518 Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; 87 ALJR 1022; 302 ALR 192; 229 A Crim R 337; [2013] HCA 37 Cahyadi v R (2007) 168 A Crim R 41; [2007] NSWCCA 1 CMB v Attorney General for New South Wales (2015) CLR 346; [2015] HCA 9 DR v R [2022] NSWCCA 151 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Hili v R; Jones v R (2010) 242 CLR 250; [2010] HCA 45 Hoskins v R [2021] NSWCCA 169 Lloyd v R [2022] NSWCCA 18 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Munda v Western Australia (2013) 249 CLR 600; [2013] HCA 38 Perkins v R [2018] NSWCCA 62 Postiglione v R (1997) 189 CLR 295 at 307-308; 71 ALJR 875; 145 ALR 408; 94 A Crim R 397; [1997] HCA 26; R v Fisher (1989) 40 A Crim R 442 R v Irwin [2019] NSWCCA 133 R v JVP (Unreported, NSWCCA, Gleeson CJ, Abadee and Dowd JJ, 6 November 1995) R v Lao [2003] NSWCCA 315 R v MAK; R v MSK (2006) 167 A Crim R 159; [2006] NSWCCA 181 R v Millwood [2012] NSWCCA 2 Ross v R [2012] NSWCCA 161 Scrimshaw v R [2021] NSWCCA 81 Skocic v R [2014] NSWCCA 225 The Queen v Pham (2015) 256 CLR 550; 90 ALJR 13; 325 ALR 400; [2015] HCA 39 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; 62 ALJR 224; 77 ALR 385; 33 A Crim R 230; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rex (Applicant) MJ (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: E Nicholson (Applicant) P Coady (Respondent)