R v Harris [2000] NSWCCA 469

Reported Decision : [2000] 50 NSWLR 409 121 A Crim R 342

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Harris [2000] NSWCCA 469 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60211/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 November 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 20 December 2000

PARTIES : Regina Mathew James Harris JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Wood CJ at CL at 2; James J at 139

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 70027/99 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Bell J OFFICER :

COUNSEL : P G Berman SC G P Craddock SOLICITORS : S E O'Connor T E Murphy CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - Crown appeal against sentence - life sentence - sentencing under s19A Crimes Act - operation of common law principle of "worst case" and s61 Criminal Procedure Act - heinousness - non parole period for life sentence - non parole period for life sentence in other jurisdictions - truth in sentencing principle - consideration of subjective circumstances when sentencing Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s5(D) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s19A, s97(1), s431B, 442 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) s 21, 44, 45, 54, 61, schedule 1 Sentencing Act 1989 s13A Crimes Administration of Sentencing Act 1999 s132 Drugs Misuse and Trafficking Act ( NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s19AB(1)(d) Customs Act 1901 (Cth) Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) s11 Sentencing Act 1997 (Tas) s18 Sentencing Act 1995 (WA) s90 Criminal Law 1998(Sentencing Act) s32 Parole Act (ACT) 1976 (s7) Penalties and Sentences Act (Qld) 1992 s157 R v Bell (1985) 2 NSWLR 466 Veen v The Queen (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 R v Garforth (unreported, NSWCCA, 23 May 1994) R v Ellis (1986) 6 NSWLR 603 R v Petroff (unreported, Hunt CJ at CL, 12 November 1999) Bugmy v The Queen (1990) 169 CLR 625 Ibbs v The Queen (1987) 163 CLR 447 R v Street (unreported, NSWCCA, 17 December 1996) R v Leonard (unreported, Badgery-Parker J, 10 November 1997) R v Rose (unreported, Levine J, 3 September 1998) R v Twala (unreported, NSWCCA, 4 November 1994) CASES CITED: R v Arhurell (unreported, Hunt CJ at CL, 3 October 1997) R v Kalajzich (1997) 94 A Crim R 41 R v Petrinovic [1999] NSWSC 1131 Wilson v The Queen (1992) 174 CLR 313 R v Fernando (1997) 95 A Crim R 533 R v Richardson (unreported, Finlay J, 28 February 1994) R v Robinson [2000] NSWSC 972 R v Reading (unreported, NSWCCA, 23 June 1998) R v Mitchell (1996) 70 ALJR 313 R v Crump (unreported, NSWCCA, 30 May 1993) R v Allpass (1993) 72 A Crim R 561 Kable v DPP (1996) 189 CLR 51 DECISION : (1) Appeal allowed; (2) Sentences for the murders charged in counts 2 and 3 of the indictment quashed, and in lieu thereof the respondent is sentenced to imprisonment for life, no non parole period fixed in respect of those sentences.