REGINA v. MARCHANT & CRAWT [2003] NSWSC 958

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : REGINA v. MARCHANT & CRAWT [2003] NSWSC 958 HEARING DATE(S) : 16/09/03; 17/09/03; 22/09/03; 23/09/03; 30/09/03; 14/10/03; 15/10/03; 16/10/03; 23/10/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 23 October 2003 JURISDICTION: Criminal JUDGMENT OF : Greg James J at 1 DECISION : Marchant - Impose a sentence of 38 years with a non-parole period of 32 years. That sentence is to commence on 19 September 2002. The earliest date on which he will be eligible for release on parole will be 18 September 2034.; Crawt - Impose a sentence of 35 years with a non-parole period of 28 years. That sentence is to commence on 10 August 2002. The earliest date on which he will be eligible to be release on parole will be 9 August 2030.

CATCHWORDS : Murder - plea of guilty - life sentence - when available - determinate sentence - significance of adverse prior record - offenders' discussion of crime ghoulish, evidencing viciousness and callousness - lack of prospects of rehabilitation - whether no non-parole period should be fixed. Listening Devices Act 1984 Crimes Act 1900 LEGISLATION CITED : Firearms Act 1995 Weapons Prohibited Act 1998 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Harris (2003) 50 NSWLR 409 Petrinovic [1999] NSWSC 1131 CASES CITED : Veen (No. 1) (1978-79) 143 CLR 458 Veen (No. 2) (1987-88) 164 CLR 465 Penisini [2003] NSWSC 892 Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270 PARTIES : REGINA v. MARCHANT, Leith Ward; REGINA v. CRAWT, John William FILE NUMBER(S) : SC No. 70020/03; No. 70015/03 Crown: B. Newport, QC. COUNSEL : Marchant: M. Paish Crawt: S. Ocampo Crown: S.E. O'Connor SOLICITORS : Marchant: Ross Hill & Associates Crawt: Burston Cole