REGINA v. TOWNER [2002] NSWSC 951

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : REGINA v. TOWNER [2002] NSWSC 951 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Criminal FILE NUMBER(S) : SC No. 14 of 1997 HEARING DATE(S) : 6 December 2001, 27 June 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 18 October 2002

PARTIES : REGINA v. TOWNER, Neville Raymond JUDGMENT OF : Greg James J at 1

COUNSEL : Crown: P. Power, SC. App: H. Dhanji SOLICITORS : Crown: S.E. O'Connor App: D.J. Humphreys CATCHWORDS : Criminal law - life sentence - re-determination under s.13A, Sentencing Act 1989 - murder and attempted rape of child under 10 - considerations of principles applicable - consideration of life sentences under subsequent sentencing regimes - consideration of sentences passed after re-determinations - offence not meriting life means life - difference in nature between life sentence with parole and life sentence with no prospect of release - application of principles relating to non-parole period to fixing minimum term. Sentencing Act 1989 LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Baker [2001] NSWSC 412 Clarke (1990) 48 A. Crim. R. 100 Baker [2002] NSWCCA 184 Ainsworth (1994) 76 A. Crim. R. 127 Previtera (1997) 94 A. Crim. R. 76 Cribb (CCA, unreported 4 November 1994) Petrinovic [1999] NSWSC 1131 Fernando (CCA, unreported 21 August 1997) Garforth (CCA, unreported 23 May 1994) Purdy (1992) 65 A. Crim. R. 441 Johnstone (Badgery-Parker, J., unreported 20 November 1992) CASES CITED : Carr (Greg James, J., unreported 23 April 1999) Harris [2000] NSWCCA 469 Hitchins (Grove, J., unreported 3 June 1993) Pearce aka Luckman (James, J., unreported 20 October 1993) MBD (CCA, unreported 6 March 1996) Gregory (Finlay, J., unreported 7 June 1991) Lewthwaite (Slattery, J., unreported 31 July 1992) Beatty (Newman, J., unreported 8 November 1991) Jessop (Sharpe, J., unreported 7 February 1992) Stephens (McInerney, J., unreported 22 December 1987) Kalajzich (1997) 94 A. Crim. R. 41 Veen [2000] NSWSC 656 DECISION : The sentence for murder should be re-determined and the applicant is sentenced to life to date from 18 May 1989. That sentence comprises a minimum term of 20 years to expire on 17 May 2009, together with an additional term of life imprisonment.