Aiga v R [2024] NSWCCA 175

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Aiga v R [2024] NSWCCA 175 Hearing dates: 29 July 2024 Date of orders: 20 September 2024 Decision date: 20 September 2024 Before: N Adams J at [1]; Ierace J at [131]; Sweeney J at [132]. Decision: (1) Leave to appeal is granted. (2) The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – Appeal against sentence – recklessly causing grievous bodily harm – ex tempore judgment – whether judge made findings of fact not available on the evidence – whether judge erred in finding the objective seriousness as slightly above mid-range – whether judge erred in declining to find reduced moral culpability on the basis of offender's alcohol use disorder – whether sentence manifestly excessive – erroneous findings of fact – no error with respect to objective seriousness – no error with respect to moral culpability – re-sentence – no lesser sentence Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 21A, 25D(2), 44(2A) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 35(2), 61 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5(1)(c), 6 Cases Cited: AB v R [2014] NSWCCA 339 Benn v R [2023] NSWCCA 24 Bourke v R (2010) 199 A Crim R 38; [2010] NSWCCA 22 Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Buxton v R [2017] NSWCCA 169 Clarke v R (2015) 254 A Crim R 150; [2015] NSWCCA 232 Daniels v R [2016] NSWCCA 35 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 DL v R (2018) 265 CLR 215; [2018] HCA 32 Gibson v Regina [2019] NSWCCA 221 Hordern v R [2019] NSWCCA 138 Kelly v R [2016] NSWCCA 246 Kentwell v R (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Lewin v R [2017] NSWCCA 65 Magro v R [2020] NSWCCA 25 Mulato v R [2006] NSWCCA 282 Munda v Western Australia (2013) 249 CLR 600; [2013] HCA 38 Parker v Director of Public Prosecutions (1992) 28 NSWLR 282 R v Aiga [2023] NSWDC 622 R v Engert (1995) 84 A Crim R 67 R v MJ [2023] NSWCCA 306 R v O'Donoghue (1988) 34 A Crim R 397 RO v R [2019] NSWCCA 183 Ross v R [2012] NSWCCA 161 Wick v R [2017] NSWCCA 244 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Filo Aiga (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Chhabra with Mr W Bruffey (Applicant) Ms E Wilkins SC (Respondent)