R v Pimentel [1999] NSWCCA 401

Reported Decision : 110 A Crim R 30

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal CITATION : R v Pimentel [1999] NSWCCA 401 revised - 21/12/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60077/99; 60135/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 26 November 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 10 December 1999

PARTIES : Meliton Pimental (Appellant/Respondent) Regina (Commonwealth) (Respondent/Appellant) JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Dunford J at 2; Hidden J at 44

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 97/11/0868 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER : Kinchington DCJ

COUNSEL : J Fliece (Appellant/Respondent) PS Hastings QC/GJ Bellew (Respondent/Crown)(Appellant/Crown) SOLICITORS : Neil J O'Connor & Associates (Appellant/Respondent) Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (Respondent/Crown)(Appellant/Crown) CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - offences - knowingly concerned in importation of narcotic goods - when importation complete; CRIMINAL LAW - duress - what constitutes duress; CRIMINAL LAW - sentencing - Crown appeal - inadequacy - parity; EVIDENCE - illegally obtained - discretion to admit - Evidence Act 1995, s 138. ACTS CITED : Customs Act 1901, s 233B; Evidence Act 1995, s 138. The Queen v Bull (1974) 131 CLR 203; Ridgeway v The Queen (1995) 184 CLR 19; CASES CITED: He Kaw Teh v The Queen (1985) 157 CLR 523; R v Abusafiah (1991) 24 NSWLR 531; R v Williamson [1972] 2 NSWLR 281. DECISION : Appeal against conviction dismissed; Crown appeal against sentence dismissed; Conviction and sentence confirmed.

IN THE COURT OF

CRIMINAL APPEAL

60077/99 60135/99

SPIGELMAN CJ DUNFORD J HIDDEN J