R v George [2004] NSWCCA 247

Reported Decision : 149 A Crim R 38

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v George [2004] NSWCCA 247 HEARING DATE(S) : 14/7/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 August 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Wood CJ at CL at 1; Adams J at 1; Kirby J at 1 DECISION : 1. Leave to appeal granted; 2.Appeal allowed, sentence below quashed, and in lieu thereof Applicant be sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years and 6 months, to date from 28 November 2002, and to expire on 27 May 2006; 3.A non-parole period of 2 years, to date from 28 November 2002, and to expire on 27 November 2004.

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - manslaughter - criminal negligence - gross and wilful failure of carer to provide proper care for elderly mother - plea of not guilty - trial by judge alone - appeal against severity of sentence - mental illness - whether manifestly excessive sentence - whether adequate weight given to applicant's psychological condition - Asperger's Syndrome or social dysfunction - issue of personal deterrence and mitigation. LEGISLATION CITED : Criminal Appeal Act 1912 - s 6(3) Regina v Anderson [1981] VR 155 R v Blacklidge NSWCCA 12 December 1995 R v Cameron NSWCCA 27 September 1994 R v Do [2001] NSWCCA 19 R v Do [2000] NSWCCA 459 R v Engert (1995) 84 A Crim R 67 Regina v Eriksson (2001) NSWSC 781 Regina v Henry (1999) 46 NSWLR 376 R v Hill (1981) 3 A Crim R 397 Regina v Israil [2002] NSWCCA 255 CASES CITED : R v Letteri NSWCCA 18 March 1993 R v Luong [2000] NSWSC 505 R v Maguire NSWCCA 30 August 1995 Regina v Morgan (1993) 70 A Crim R 368 Regina v Nelson [2002] NSWCCA 463 Regina v Nicholls [1874] 13 Cox CC 75 Regina v Salameh NSWCCA 9 June 1994 Regina v Scognamiglio (1991) 56 A Crim R 81 Regina v Stone and Dobinson [1977] QB 354 Regina v Trevenna [2004] NSWCCA 43 R v Wilkinson [1999] NSWCCA 248 Regina v Wilkinson NSWSC 9 April 1998 PARTIES : Regina Phillip George FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60475/03 COUNSEL : P Power SC (Crown) P Hamill (Applicant) SOLICITORS : S Kavanagh (Crown) S E O'Connor (Legal Aid)