McLaughlin v R [2025] NSWCCA 13

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: McLaughlin v R [2025] NSWCCA 13 Hearing dates: 22 November 2024 Date of orders: 19 February 2025 Decision date: 19 February 2025 Before: Hamill J at [1]; N Adams J at [2]; Coleman J at [181]. Decision: (1) Leave to appeal granted. (2) Appeal allowed. (3) The sentence imposed by Judge O'Rourke SC on 15 March 2024 is quashed. (4) In lieu thereof the applicant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 12 years to commence on 22 May 2021 and expire on 21 May 2033. The non-parole period of 7 years and 6 months will expire on 21 November 2028. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – appeal against sentence – plea of guilty – willingness to facilitate the course of justice – failure to address submission – expert evidence re relevance of ADHD not challenged – denial of procedural fairness in rejecting expert evidence – challenge to finding of role in hierarchy – error established – applicant re-sentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 16A, 16BA Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), ss 11.5(1), 307.1(1), 400.4(1) Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (Cth) Cases Cited: AB v R [2014] NSWCCA 339 Aiga v R [2024] NSWCCA 175 Barbieri v R [2016] NSWCCA 295 Baroudi v R [2007] NSWCCA 48 Benn v R [2023] NSWCCA 24 Chong v R [2017] NSWCCA 185 Chuang, Chih Wen v R; Chen, Chun Hung v R [2020] NSWCCA 60 Clarke v R [2015] NSWCCA 232; (2015) 254 A Crim R 150 DH v R [2022] NSWCCA 200 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 DL v The Queen (2018) 265 CLR 215; [2018] HCA 32 Dorsett v R [2024] NSWCCA 192 DS v R; DM v R (2022) 109 NSWLR 82; [2022] NSWCCA 156 Fraser v The King [2023] SASCA 74 Gibson v Regina [2019] NSWCCA 221 Giles-Adams v R; Preca v R [2023] NSWCCA 123 Hampton v R [2014] NSWCCA 131; (2014) 243 A Crim R 193 Hordern v R [2019] NSWCCA 138 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Milsom v R [2014] NSWCCA 142 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Nair v R [2013] NSWCCA 79 Newman v R [2021] NSWCCA 101 Ocek v R [2023] NSWCCA 308 Pham v The Queen [2012] VSCA 101 Power v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 623; [1974] HCA 26 R v Nguyen; R v Pham [2010] NSWCCA 238 R v O'Donoghue (1988) 34 A Crim R 397 R v Pham [2005] NSWCCA 94 R v Thompson [2005] NSWCCA 340; (2005) 156 A Crim R 467 R v Walker [2023] NSWCCA 219 Refaieh v R [2018] NSWCCA 72 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Brent McLaughlin (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Walker SC with T F Woods (Applicant) S Callan SC with S Love (Respondent)