Coskun v R [2024] NSWCCA 67

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Coskun v R [2024] NSWCCA 67 Hearing dates: 5 February 2024 Date of orders: 10 May 2024 Decision date: 10 May 2024 Before: Kirk JA, Wilson and Ierace JJ at [1] Decision: (1) To the extent necessary grant leave to appeal in relation to the applicant's convictions, other than with respect to ground 5. (2) Dismiss the appeal with respect to the convictions. (3) Grant leave to appeal in relation to the applicant's sentence. (4) Dismiss the appeal with respect to sentence. Catchwords: CRIME – Murder – s 18(1)(a) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – Attempted robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon – s 97(2) Crimes Act CRIME – Constructive murder – Joint criminal enterprise – Extended joint criminal enterprise – Elements of constructive murder – Whether trial judge erred in directing jury – Not necessary that the act causing death must be done by the accused, or be within the scope of a joint criminal enterprise – Acts of those involved in the JCE are attributed to each other – No further mental element required as regards death DEFENCES – Self-defence – Availability to constructive murder – Self-defence unavailable EVIDENCE – Tendency evidence – Test for admitting tendency evidence – Significant probative value within the meaning of s 97(1)(b) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – Balancing with unfair prejudice under s 101 Evidence Act – Unnecessary to identify specific reasons behind tendency – Importance of framing tendency – Levels of generality – Danger in framing tendency evidence in too wide or narrow a manner – Evidence has significant probative value – Evidence unlikely to unfairly prejudice applicant – Applicant did not seek further directions on the point at trial SENTENCE – Whether sentence was manifestly excessive – Need to tailor sentence for constructive murder to circumstances of the case – Serious offence – Multiple aggravating factors – Lack of remorse or insight into moral culpability – Sentence not manifestly excessive Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 18(1), 97(2), 418-421 Crimes Amendment (Self-defence) Act 2001 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 6(1) Criminal Law Amendment Act 1883 (NSW) Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) ss 11, 12A Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 97(1)(b), 101, 137 Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) Rules 2021 (NSW) r 4.15 Cases Cited: ARS v R [2011] NSWCCA 266 Batak v R [2024] NSWCCA 66 Beattie v R [2021] NSWCCA 291 Edwards v The Queen [2021] HCA 28; (2021) 273 CLR 585 Filippou v The Queen [2015] HCA 29; (2015) 256 CLR 47 GBF v The Queen [2020] HCA 40; (2020) 271 CLR 537 Greenhalgh v R [2017] NSWCCA 94 HCF v The Queen [2023] HCA 35; (2023) 97 ALJR 978 Hili v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 242 CLR 520 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; (1936) 55 CLR 499 Hudd v R [2013] NSWCCA 57 Hughes v The Queen [2017] HCA 20; (2017) 263 CLR 338 IL v The Queen [2017] HCA 27; (2017) 262 CLR 268 Johns v The Queen [1980] HCA 3; (1980) 143 CLR 108 McAuliffe v The Queen [1995] HCA 37; (1995) 183 CLR 108 McPhillamy v The Queen [2018] HCA 52; (2018) 92 ALJR 1045 Miller v The Queen [2016] HCA 30; (2016) 259 CLR 380 Mitchell v The King [2023] HCA 5; (2023) 276 CLR 299 Obeid v R [2017] NSWCCA 221; (2017) 96 NSWLR 155 R v Burke [1983] 2 NSWLR 93 R v DJD and Murdoch [2023] NSWSC 222; (2023) 111 NSWLR 193 R v Downs (1985) 3 NSWLR 312 R v Grand and Jones (1903) 3 SR (NSW) 216 R v Jackson (1857) 7 Cox's CC 357 R v Jacobs [2004] NSWCCA 462; (2004) 151 A Crim R 452 R v Jarmain [1946] 1 KB 74 R v Mills (unreported, 3 April 1995) R v Nehme, Price, Rahim, Taufahema and Rizk [2023] NSWSC 202 R v R (1995) 63 SASR 417 R v Surridge (1942) 42 SR (NSW) 278 The Queen v Bauer (a pseudonym) [2018] HCA 40; (2018) 266 CLR 56 TL v The Queen [2022] HCA 35; (2022) 275 CLR 83 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Cengiz Coskun (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: