R v Fisher [2024] NSWCCA 191

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Fisher [2024] NSWCCA 191 Hearing dates: 7 August 2024 Date of orders: 25 October 2024 Decision date: 25 October 2024 Before: Price AJA at [1]; Garling J at [3]; Rigg J at [4]. Decision: 1. Allow the appeal; 2. Quash the sentence imposed on the respondent in the District Court on 26 April 2024, and in lieu thereof, sentence the respondent to a term of imprisonment of 15 years with a non-parole period of 11 years and 3 months, commencing on 20 April 2021. The date the respondent is first eligible for release to parole is 19 July 2032. Catchwords: CRIME ­­— Appeals — Crown appeal against sentence — Persistent sexual abuse of a child — Approach to assessment of objective seriousness — Manifest inadequacy — Appeal allowed — Respondent resentenced Legislation Cited: Child Protection (Offenders Regulation) Act 2000 (NSW) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61M, 66A, 66C, 66EA, 80AF, 91H Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5D Criminal Legislation Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse) Act 2018 (NSW) Criminal Legislation Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse) Bill 2018 (NSW) Cases Cited: ARS v R [2011] NSWCCA 266 Burr v R [2020] NSWCCA 282; 285 A Crim R 504 Cheung v R (2001) 209 CLR 1; [2001] HCA 67 DB v R [2024] NSWCCA 18 DC v R [2023] NSWCCA 82 Dinsdale v R (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 GP (a pseudonym) v R [2021] NSWCCA 180 Green v R; Quinn v R (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Hili v R; Jones v R (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 JG v R [2023] NSWCCA 33 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Massequoi v R [2024] NSWCCA 125 MK v R [2024] NSWCCA 127 MK v R; RB v R (2023) 112 NSWLR 96; [2023] NSWCCA 180 Nolan v R [2024] NSWCCA 140 R v D [1996] 1 Qd R 363; [1995] QCA 329 (reported sub nom R v Dales (1995) 80 A Crim R 50) R v D (1997) 69 SASR 413; [1997] SASC 6350 R v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 R v Fitzgerald (2004) 59 NSWLR 493; [2004] NSWCCA 5 R v H (1980) 3 A Crim R 53 R v Isaacs (1997) 41 NSWLR 374 R v JCW [2000] NSWCCA 209; 112 A Crim R 466 R v Manners [2004] NSWCCA 181 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Pearce [2020] NSWCCA 61 R v RB [2022] NSWCCA 142; 300 A Crim R 1 R v Reiner (1974) 8 SASR 102 R v Sharrouf [2023] NSWCCA 137 RA v R [2024] NSWCCA 149 Siganto v R (1998) 194 CLR 656; [1998] HCA 74 Towse v R [2022] NSWCCA 252 Walker v R [2023] NSWCCA 219 WP v R [2024] NSWCCA 77 Xerri v R [2021] NSWCCA 268; 292 A Crim R 355 Xerri v R [2024] HCA 5; 98 ALJR 461 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rex (Appellant) Ronald Fisher (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Bonnor (Appellant) T Quilter (Respondent)