Du Plessis v R [2024] NSWCCA 164

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Du Plessis v R [2024] NSWCCA 164 Hearing dates: 29 July 2024 Decision date: 06 September 2024 Before: N Adams J; Ierace J; Sweeney J Decision: (1) Grant leave to file notice of appeal out of time; (2) Grant leave to appeal; (3) Appeal allowed; (4) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court on 14 April 2023; (5) In lieu thereof sentence the applicant to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 10 years to commence on 8 December 2022 and to expire on 7 December 2032, with a non-parole period of 7 years, expiring on 7 December 2029. Catchwords: CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against sentence — Application for leave to file notice of appeal out of time — Application for leave to appeal — Aggravated sexual intercourse without consent — Where circumstance of aggravation was that the complainant was under the age of 16 years — Whether sentencing judge erred in finding the complainant to be vulnerable and the offence to be aggravated by that fact — Whether the sentence was manifestly excessive Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61J(1), 61J(2)(d), 61M(2) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1)(c) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 10, 21A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment Act 2006 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (General Sentencing Principles) Act 2002 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Standard Minimum Sentencing) Act 2002 (NSW) Rural Crime Legislation Amendment Act 2017 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ali v R [2010] NSWCCA 35 Archer v R [2017] NSWCCA 151 Christie v R [2012] NSWCCA 228 Conte v R [2018] NSWCCA 209 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 DL v R [2020] NSWCCA 164 Drew v The Queen (2016) 264 A Crim R 1; [2016] NSWCCA 310 He v Sun [2021] NSWCA 95 JM v The Queen (2014) 246 A Crim R 528; [2014] NSWCCA 297 Katsis v R [2018] NSWCCA 9 Longworth v The Queen (2017) 266 A Crim R 551; [2017] NSWCCA 119 Martin v R [2016] NSWCCA 273 Morrison v R [2022] NSWCCA 158 Obeid v R (2017) 96 NSWLR 155; [2017] NSWCCA 221 R v Brown [2012] NSWCCA 199 R v Williams [2005] NSWCCA 99 Truong v R; R v Le; Nguyen v R; R v Nguyen [2013] NSWCCA 36 Category: Principal judgment Parties: George Du Plessis (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: S Kluss (Applicant) J Styles (Respondent)