Brown v R [2023] NSWCCA 330

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Brown v R [2023] NSWCCA 330 Hearing dates: 22 November 2023 Date of orders: 20 December 2023 Decision date: 20 December 2023 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Garling J at [2]; Cavanagh J at [3] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal granted. 2. Appeal allowed. 3. The decision of Judge G O'Rourke SC of 16 March 2023 is quashed. 4. The applicant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 3 years and 3 months commencing on 10 February 2022 and expiring on 9 May 2025 with a non-parole period of 2 years. The non-parole period will expire on 9 February 2024. Catchwords: CRIMES – Appeal against sentence – whether sentencing judge erred in assessment of objective seriousness CRIMES – Appeal against sentence – whether sentencing judge erred in assessment of the applicant's rehabilitative prospects CRIMES – Appeal against sentence – where offending was assessed to be within the mid-range – where offences occurred within a short period in a single course of conduct – where applicant had strong subjective case – consideration of sentences imposed in cases with similar fact patterns – sentence is manifestly excessive – applicant resentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 66C(3), 61M(2) Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW) s 13(1) Cases Cited: Alarcon v The Queen [2018] NSWCCA 298 Azzopardi v R [2019] NSWCCA 306 Beavis v The Queen [2018] NSWCCA 248 Bell v R [2019] NSWCCA 251 Blackett v The Queen [2021] NSWCCA 210 Dinsdale v R (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 DS v R; DM v R (2022) 109 NSWLR 82; [2022] NSWCCA 156 Hili v R; Jones v R (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hurmz v R [2017] NSWCCA 235 Kenny v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 6 Kirby v R [2021] NSWCCA 162 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 McDowall v R [2019] NSWCCA 29 Mulato v R [2006] NSWCCA 282 Muniandy v R [2021] NSWCCA 305 O'Brien v The Queen [2013] NSWCCA 197 Pleasance v R [2016] NSWCCA 113 R v Dagwell [2006] NSWCCA 98 R v RD [2014] NSWCCA 103 R v Wright [2017] NSWCCA 102 Sharma v R [2017] NSWCCA 85 Stoeski v R [2014] NSWCCA 161 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael George Brown (Applicant) Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Higgins (Applicant) J Styles (Respondent)