R v Bourchas [2002] NSWCCA 373

Reported Decision : (2002) 133 A Crim R 413

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Bourchas [2002] NSWCCA 373 revised - 29/04/2003 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60704/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 19 July 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 2 October 2002

PARTIES : R v Mario Bourchas JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Levine J at 124; Sperling J at 125

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 01/11/0360 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Naughton DCJ OFFICER :

COUNSEL : P Byrne SC & G Bashir - Applicant P Roberts SC - Respondent SOLICITORS : Ross Hill & Associates - Appellant Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions - Respondent CATCHWORDS : Sentencing - assistance to authorities - statement given to authorities on promise would not be used against offender - tendered in sentencing hearing - what was evidentiary regime for ruling on admissability - whether admissible over objection of the offender - whether admissible on basis that could not be used against offender - whether admitted on that basis - whether error in misuse against offender - whether insufficient discount for assistance to authorities - whether resistance to use of statement could be taken into account against offender - offender resentenced. Boyd v Sandercock, ex parte Sandercock (1990) 2 Qd R 2; Chow v Director of Public Prosecutions (1992) 28 NSWLR 593; Doggett v R [2001] HCA 46; ex parte Kelly; re Teece (1966) 85 WN (Pt 1) 151; Gamble (1984) 14 A Crim R 179; Jones v Sutherland Shire Council (1979) 2 NSWLR 206; Meggett (1999) 107 A Crim R 257; Potter (1994) 72 A Crim R 108; Olbrich (1988) 103 A Crim R 149; The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 220; Siganto v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 656; R v Amaral (CCA, 4 August 1992, unreported); R v Arthur (1913) 13 SR 267; R v Askew (1981) Crim L Rev 398; R v Brown (1946) 174 LT 428; R v Campbell (1911) 6 Cr App R 131; R v Cartwright (1989) 17 NSWLR 243; CASES CITED: R v Gallagher (1991) 23 NSWLR 220; R v Gardiner (1982) 68 CCC (2d) 477; R v Lawless (1974) VR 398; R v Lucky (1974) 12 SASR 136; R v Portolesi (1988) 48 SASR 217; R v Many (1990) 51 A Crim R 54; R v Murphy (1947) QWN 4; R v Raz (CCA, 17 December 1992, unreported); R v Rear (1965) 2 All ER 268; R v Saunders (1926) 26 SR 342; R v Toma [1999] NSWCCA 350; R v Turner (1924) 18 Cr App R 161; R v Van Pelz (1942) 29 Cr App R 10; R v Watson (CCA, 3 June 1992, unreported); Robinson (1969) 53 Cr AppR 314; S Hoffnung & Co (1928) 28 SR 260; Transport and General Insurance Co Ltd v Edmondson (1961) 106 CLR 23; Ugle v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 647; Wilkins (1978) 66 Cr App R 49. DECISION : (1) Leave to appeal granted; (2) Appeal allowed; (3) Sentence imposed in the District Court quashed; (4) The appellant sentenced to a term of imprisonment for 4 years and 11 months commencing 9 April 2000 and expiring on 8 March 2005; (5) Fix a non-parole period of 3 years commencing 9 April 2000 and expiring 8 April 2003. See para 123. D.