R v Darren James Sotheren [2001] NSWSC 214

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : R v Darren James Sotheren [2001] NSWSC 214 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 70044/00 12-13/2/2001 16/2/2001 26-27/2/2001 1-2/3/2001 HEARING DATE(S) : 5-6/3/2001 27/3/2001 2/4/2001 25/5/2001 29/5/2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 June 2001

PARTIES : Regina Darren James Sotheren JUDGMENT OF : Dowd J at 1

COUNSEL : Ms M Cunneen- Crown Mr M McColm- Prisoner SOLICITORS : Ms K Thompson- Crown Mr A Williams- Prisoner CATCHWORDS : Sentencing for Manslaughter - Sentencing for robbery in circumstances of aggravation - Principle of totality - Accumulation and concurrent sentences - Special circumstances - Aboriginality LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes (Sentencing Procedures) Act 1999. Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610. R v Bavadra (2000) 115 A Crim R 152. R v Fernando (1992) 76 A Crim R 58. R v Hammoud (Unreported, NSWCCA, 15 December 2000). CASES CITED : R v Holder & Johnston (1983) 3 NSWLR 245. R v Lemene (Unreported, NSWCCA, 9 February 2001). R v Radich [1954] NZLR 86. R v Rushby [1977] 1 NSWLR 594. R v Veen (No 2)(1987-1988) 164 CLR 465. DECISION : 1. For two counts of Aggravated Robbery, prisoner sentenced to two concurrent fixed terms of two-and-a-half years, backdated till the commencement of custody; 2. For two further counts of Aggravated Robbery, prisoner sentenced to fixed concurrent and part cumulative terms of two-and-a-half years to commence 1 year after the first two counts; 3. For a further count of Aggravated Robbery, prisoner sentenced to a fixed term of two-and-a-half years, partly concurrent and party cumulative with the four previous sentences, to commence two years after the commencement of the first two counts; 4. For the count of Manslaughter, the prisoner is sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, commencing two years after the commencement of custody partly cumulative and partly concurrent with the five previous counts, with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years in the special circumstances.