R v Stephens [2024] NSWCCA 170

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Stephens [2024] NSWCCA 170 Hearing dates: 24 May 2024 Date of orders: 11 September 2024 Decision date: 11 September 2024 Before: Harrison CJ at CL at [1]; Hamill J at [2]; Chen J at [34] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal. (2) Quash the sentence imposed on the respondent on 1 December 2023 and in lieu thereof impose an aggregate sentence of imprisonment of 6 years, with a non-parole period of 4 years, commencing 29 November 2023. The respondent will become eligible to be released on parole on 28 November 2027. The sentence will expire on 28 November 2029. (3) Order, pursuant to s 12(2) of the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW), that the offences be recorded on the respondent's criminal record as domestic violence offences. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – Appeal against sentence – By Crown against inadequacy – Where respondent has pleaded guilty to 14 domestic violence offences against former de-facto partner – Where sentencing judge made guarded findings regarding the respondent's prospects of rehabilitation – Whether sentencing judge paid sufficient regard to the sentencing principles of specific deterrence and community protection - Whether sentencing judge engaged in "double counting" in regard to the promotion of the respondent's prospects of rehabilitation – Manifestly inadequate sentence established – Respondent resentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Cases Cited: AB v The Queen (1999) 198 CLR 111; [1999] HCA 46 Abbas, Bodiotis, Taleb and Amoun v R [2013] NSWCCA 115; (2013) 231 A Crim R 413 AM v R [2024] NSWCCA 26 Attorney-General's Application under s 37 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 No 1 of 2002 (2002) 56 NSWLR 146; [2002] NSWCCA 518 Barbaro v The Queen [2012] VSCA 288; (2012) 226 A Crim R 354 Betts v The Queen (2016) 258 CLR 420; [2016] HCA 25 Blackett v R [2021] NSWCCA 210 BP v R [2010] NSWCCA 159; (2010) 201 A Crim R 379 Brzozowski v R [2023] NSWCCA 129 Bugmy v The Queen (1990) 169 CLR 525; [1990] HCA 18 Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Cahyadi v R [2007] NSWCCA 1; (2007) 168 A Crim R 41 Carr v R [2024] NSWCCA 103 Carroll v The Queen (2009) 254 CLR 259; [2009] HCA 13 Cherry v R [2017] NSWCCA 150 CMB v Attorney General (NSW) (2015) 256 CLR 346; [2015] HCA 9 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Darcy-Shillingsworth [2017] NSWCCA 224; (2017) 269 A Crim R 40 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v TH [2023] NSWCCA 81 DL v The Queen (2018) 265 CLR 215; [2018] HCA 32 FL v R [2020] NSWCCA 114 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Griffiths v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 372; [1989] HCA 39 Habambo v R [2023] NSWCCA 328 HCA 37 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Hurt v The King [2024] HCA 8; (2024) 98 ALJR 485 JA v R [2021] NSWCCA 10 JM v R [2014] NSWCCA 297; (2014) 246 A Crim R 528 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 78 ALJR 616 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] Kresovic v R [2018] NSWCCA 37 KT v R [2008] NSWCCA 51; (2008) 182 A Crim R 571 Ladas v R [2022] NSWCCA 160 LN v R [2020] NSWCCA 131 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Masters v R [2019] NSWCCA 233 Miller v R [2015] NSWCCA 86 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Nguyen v The Queen (2016) 256 CLR 656; [2016] HCA 17 Power v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 623; [1974] HCA 26 PW v R [2019] NSWCCA 298 R v AA [2017] NSWCCA 84 R v Campbell [2014] NSWCCA 102 R v Dunn [2004] NSWCCA 41; (2004) 144 A Crim R 180 R v DW [2012] NSWCCA 66 R v Edigarov [2001] NSWCCA 436; (2001) 125 A Crim R 551 R v Elliott and Blessington (2006) 68 NSWLR 1; [2006] NSWCCA 305 R v Fidow [2004] NSWCCA 172 R v GWM [2012] NSWCCA 240 R v Hallocoglu (1992) 29 NSWLR 67 R v Hamid [2006] NSWCCA 302 R v Hernando [2002] NSWCCA 489; (2002) 136 A Crim R 451 R v Holder [1983] 3 NSWLR 245R v JW (2010) 77 NSWLR 7; [2010] NSWCCA 49 R v MMK [2006] NSWCCA 272; (2006) 164 A Crim R 481 R v Moffitt (1990) 20 NSWLR 114 R v Pham (2015) 256 CLR 550; [2015] HCA 39 R v Sharrouf [2023] NSWCCA 137 R v Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704; [2001] NSWCCA 534 R v Slade [2005] 2 NZLR 526 R v Van Ryn [2016] NSWCCA 1 R v West [2014] NSWCCA 250 R v Windle [2012] NSWCCA 222 R v Woodland [2007] NSWCCA 29; (2007) 48 MVR 360 Ragg v R [2022] NSWCCA 150 Regina v Barakat [2004] NSWCCA 201 RO v R [2019] NSWCCA 183 Samandi v R [2020] NSWCCA 217 Stojanovski v R [2013] NSWCCA 334 TM v R [2023] NSWCCA 185 Turnbull v R [2019] NSWCCA 97 Yaman v R [2020] NSWCCA 239 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rex (Applicant) Connor Stephens (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: G Newton SC (Applicant) R Rodger (Respondent)