R v Cousins & Anor [2002] NSWCCA 340

Reported Decision : (2002) 132 A Crim R 444

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Cousins & Anor [2002] NSWCCA 340 revised - 11/09/2002 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60191 & 60192/02 HEARING DATE(S) : 17 July 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 23 August 2002

PARTIES : R v John Bernard COUSINS & Patricia Grenda COUSINS JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Sperling J at 45; Greg James J at 46

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 01/51/0134 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Ducker DCJ OFFICER :

COUNSEL : P Hamill - Applicants E A Wilkins - Respondents SOLICITORS : Price & Roobottom, Southport, Queensland - Applicants S E O'Connor - Respondents CATCHWORDS : Sentence appeals - possession of precursor - error in failing to give discount for utilitarian value of plea - sentencing after Cameron v The Queen and before R v Sharma - discount given for plea of guilty nonetheless as much as could properly have been expected - sentences not excessive - no other sentence warranted in law - appeals dismissed. Cameron v The Queen [2002] HCA 6; 76 ALJR 382; R v Astill (No2) (1992) 64 A Crim R 289; CASES CITED: R v Cocking [1999] NSWCCA 311; R v Sharma [2002] NSWCA 142; R v Thompson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383. DECISION : (1) Grant leave to appeal in each case; (2) Appeal dismissed in each case save only for the following order; (3) Order that the applicant Patricia Grenda Cousins be released from custody on 24 July 2003.

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL CCA 60191/02 & 60192/02 DC 01/51/0134

GILES JA SPERLING J GREG JAMES J