Crane v R [2024] NSWCCA 87

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Crane v R [2024] NSWCCA 87 Hearing dates: 3 May 2024 Date of orders: 5 June 2024 Decision date: 05 June 2024 Before: Stern JA at [1]; Rothman J at [2]; Yehia J at [4] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Appeal allowed. (3) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court on 16 August 2023. (4) In lieu thereof, sentence the applicant to a non-parole period of 3 years and 9 months commencing on 10 February 2022 and expiring on 9 November 2025, with a balance of a term of 2 years and 9 months, expiring on 9 August 2028. The total term is one of 6 years and 6 months imprisonment. (5) The earliest date upon which the applicant will be eligible for release to parole is 9 November 2025. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – appeal against sentence – dangerous driving causing death – where the statutory element of aggravation is excessive speed – whether the sentencing judge conflated the statutory element of aggravation with the circumstance of aggravation being driving under the influence of methylamphetamine – whether the applicant's mental health conditions materially contributed to the offending – giving practical effect to a finding of special circumstances – variation to the statutory ratio should meaningfully reflect the period of parole required to sufficiently address rehabilitation – appeal upheld – re-sentence Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 52A(7)(b), 52A(7)(d) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 37A, 44 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1)(c) Cases Cited: AM v R [2020] NSWCCA 101 C v R [2022] NSWCCA 285 Carl v R [2023] NSWCCA 190 CM v R [2013] NSWCCA 341 DC v R [2023] NSWCCA 82 DPP (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 El-Ahmad v R [2015] NSWCCA 65 Foaiaulima v R [2020] NSWCCA 270; 285 A Crim R 222 Grant v R [2014] NSWCCA 67 Hawat v R [2020] NSWCCA 121 Hili v R (2010) 242 CLR 250; [2010] HCA 45 Kentwell v R (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Khorami v R; R v Khorami [2021] NSWCCA 228 Luque v R [2017] NSWCCA 226 MD v R [2015] NSWCCA 37 Moiler v R [2021] NSWCCA 73 Norouzi v R [2020] NSWCCA 237 R v Bortic [2021] NSWCCA 138 R v Crane [2023] NSWDC 315 R v Ferguson [2022] NSWCCA 147 R v Fidow [2004] NSWCCA 172 R v Meakin [2019] NSWSC 1555 R v Moffitt (1990) 20 NSWLR 114; (1990) 49 A Crim R 20 R v Munro [2019] NSWDC 743 R v Pickard [2023] NSWCCA 7 R v Polutele [2020] NSWDC 33 R v Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704; [2001] NSWCCA 534 R v Sutton [2004] NSWCCA 225 R v Whyte (2002) 55 NSWLR 252; [2002] NSWCCA 343 Ryan v R [2017] NSWCCA 209 Sevastopoulos v R [2011] NSWCCA 201 Tuncbilek v R [2020] NSWCCA 30 Wong v R (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Woods v R [2020] NSWCCA 219 Young (a pseudonym) v R [2021] NSWCCA 163 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter Stephen Crane (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Rodger (Applicant) J Styles (Respondent)