Meers v R [2025] NSWCCA 27

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Meers v R [2025] NSWCCA 27 Hearing dates: 10 February 2025 Date of orders: 7 March 2025 Decision date: 07 March 2025 Before: Bell CJ at [1]; Stern JA at [2]; Yehia J at [3]. Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Allow the appeal. (3) Quash the sentence imposed on the applicant in the District Court on 10 May 2023, and in lieu thereof, sentence the applicant as follows: (i) For the state offences (sequences 12, 13, 19 and 20), an aggregate sentence of 6 years' imprisonment, commencing on 16 March 2022 and expiring on 15 March 2028. The non-parole period is 3 years and 4 months, expiring on 15 July 2025. (ii) For the federal offences (sequences 1, 22, 26, 27 and 37), an aggregate sentence of 6 years and 6 months' imprisonment, commencing on 16 January 2024 and expiring on 15 July 2030. The non-parole period is 3 years and 7 months, expiring on 15 August 2027. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – appeal against sentence – sentencing for state and federal offences – whether the total effective sentence is manifestly excessive – consideration of manifest excess in the absence of comparative cases – totality – leave to appeal granted – appeal upheld – resentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 91H(2) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), s 16A(2)(h) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 21A(2)(eb), 21A(2)(k), 21A(2)(n), 21A(3)(m), 22A, 23 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1)(c) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), ss 474.22(1), 474.22A(1) Cases Cited: Astill v R [2024] NSWCCA 118 Ayoub v R [2024] NSWCCA 168 Azzopardi v The Queen (2011) 219 A Crim R 369; [2011] VSCA 372 Cahyadi v R (2007) 168 A Crim R 41; [2007] NSWCCA 1 Conte v R (2018) 86 MVR 239; [2018] NSWCCA 209 Davidson v R (2022) 300 A Crim R 214; [2022] NSWCCA 153 Dennis v The Queen [2017] VSCA 251 He v Sun (2021) 104 NSWLR 518; [2021] NSWCA 95 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hutchison v R [2022] VSCA 217 JM v R (2014) 246 A Crim R 528; [2014] NSWCCA 297 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Minehan v R (2010) 201 A Crim R 243; [2010] NSWCCA 140 Moodie v R (2020) 284 A Crim R; [2020] NSWCCA 160 Obeid v R (2017) 96 NSWLR 155; [2017] NSWCCA 221 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 R v Appleby [2021] ACTSC 55 R v De Leeuw [2015] NSWCCA 183 R v Holder (1983) 3 NSWLR 245; (1983) 13 A Crim R 375 R v Martin (2014) 246 A Crim R 477; [2014] NSWCCA 283 R v Porte (2015) 252 A Crim R 277; [2015] NSWCCA 174 Totaan v R (2022) 108 NSWLR 17; [2022] NSWCCA 75 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Benjamin Harold Meers (Applicant) The King (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: L Brasch (Applicant) A Chhabra (Respondent)