R (Cth) v ARMSTRONG [2023] NSWDC 563

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R (Cth) v ARMSTRONG [2023] NSWDC 563 Hearing dates: 4 December 2023 Date of orders: 15 December 2023 Decision date: 15 December 2023 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Lerve DCJ Decision: Appeal upheld to the extent that the sentence date is backdated to take into account on the issues of parity and the commencement date of the sentence and non-parole period Sentenced – see paragraphs [125]-[131] Catchwords: CRIME – dishonestly obtain financial advantage – fraud and attempt on the Commonwealth – submit false information on business activity statement to obtain GST refund CRIME – appeal – knowingly take part in the supply of prohibited drug – methyl amphetamine SENTENCE – subjective features – unenviable criminal record – PTSD, major depressive disorder and substance abuse as causal connection - selling drugs to support own habit Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act, 1999 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act, 2020 Cases Cited: Acosta v R [2015] VSCA 94 Bugmy v The Queen [2013] HCA 37 DPP (Cth) v Beattie (2017) 270 A Crim R 556 DPP (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1 Health Care Complaints Committee v Johnson [2023] NSWCATOD 165 Hili & Jones v The Queen (2010) 204 A Crim R 434 Moiler v R [2021] NSWCCA 73 Parente v R (2017) 270 A Crim R 412 Rasel v R [2022] NSWCCA 239 Sabra v R [2015] NSWCCA 38 Park v The Queen [2021] HCA 37 Greaves v R [2020] NSWCCA 140 Category: Sentence Parties: Rex Harley David ARMSTRONG Representation: Counsel: Mr A Bellanto, KC