Regina v Baker [2002] NSWCCA 184

Reported Decision : (2002) 130 A Crim R 417

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : Regina v Baker [2002] NSWCCA 184 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60474/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 20/05/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 14 June 2002

PARTIES : Regina v Allan Baker JUDGMENT OF : Ipp AJA at 1; Dunford J at 109; Bergin J at 110

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : L97/012 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Greg James J OFFICER :

P R Zahra SC/A P Cook (Appellant) COUNSEL : M G Sexton SC/B K Baker (Attorney General (NSW)) R A Hulme (Crown) SOLICITORS : Brezniak Neil-Smith & Co (Appellant) S E O'Connor (Crown) CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - appeal against refusal to have minimum and additional terms determined to replace life sentence - Sentencing Act 1989 s 13A(4) - whether judge erred in deciding that the appellant was eligible to make an application under the Act - whether the Judge applied wrong test for establishing "special reasons" pursuant to s 13A(3A) - meaning of "special reasons" - whether Sentencing Legislation Further Amendment Act 1997 No 6 invalidly vests functions in the Court incompatible with the exercise of Commonwealth judicial power by that Court - whether "special reasons" are too difficult to establish - whether Act usurps judicial power - whether legislation covering a small class of people is invalid - principles. Sentencing Act 1989 Sentencing Legislation Further Amendment Act 1997 No 6 LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Kalajzich (1997) 94 A Crim R 41 United Mexican States v Cabal (2001) 75 ALJR 1663 O'Hare v DPP (2000) NSWSC 430 B v Gould and DPP (1993) 67 A Crim R 297 R v Simpson [2001] NSWCCA 534 Kable v Director of Public Prosecututions (NSW) (1996) 189 CLR 51 CASES CITED: R v Baker (NSWCCA, unreported, 23 May 1994) Nicholas v The Queen (1998) 193 CLR 173 Chester v R (1988) 165 CLR 611 R v Moffatt [1998] 2 V.R. 229 Polyukhovich v The Commonwealth (1991) 172 CLR 501 Leeth v Commonwealth (1992) 174 CLR 455 Liyanage v The Queen (1967) 1 AC 259 DECISION : Appeal dismissed.