R v PURTELL, Garry Michael [2001] NSWCCA 21

Reported Decision : 120 A Crim R 317

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v PURTELL, Garry Michael [2001] NSWCCA 21 revised - 20/03/2001 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 606341/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 30 January 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 30 January 2001

PARTIES : REGINA v Garry Michael PURTELL JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Hulme J at 18; Bell J at 20

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 98/71/0116 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Gibson DCJ OFFICER :

COUNSEL : E A Wilkins - Crown B H Hughes - Respondent SOLICITORS : S E O'Connor - Crown Pogson Cronin - Respondent CATCHWORDS : PERVERSION OF COURSE OF JUSTICE - provided forged testimonial when being sentenced for assault - guilty plea - respondent discharged without proceeding to conviction on condition he enter into good behaviour bond - Crown appeal - misapprehended significance of forged letter to the sentencing - gave undue significance to fact perversion as to sentence rather than conviction - important to protect integrity of criminal justice system - sentence manifestly inadequate - Crown appeal and Crown had not sought and did not seek custodial sentence - respondent convicted and ordered to enter into good behaviour bond. CASES CITED: R v Hakim, CCA, 5 September 1996, unreported R v Taouk (1992) 65 A Crim R 387 DECISION : Appeal allowed; order discharging respondent on condition he enter into a good behaviour bond set aside; in lieu thereof the respondent convicted and order made that he enter into a good behaviour bond.

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL CA 606341/00 DC 98/71/0116 GILES JA HULME J BELL J