Regina v Monroe [2003] NSWSC 1271

Reported Decision : 149 A Crim R 478

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Regina v Monroe [2003] NSWSC 1271 HEARING DATE(S) : 05/03/2003 - 07/03/2003, 10/03/2003 - 14/03/2003, 17/03/2003 - 21/03/2003, 24/03/2003, 26/03/2003 - 28/03/2003, 10/06/2003. JUDGMENT DATE : 22 August 2003

JUDGMENT OF : O'Keefe J DECISION : James Stuart Monroe is sentenced to imprisonment for 7 ½ years commencing on 28 March 2003 and concluding on 27 September 2010. I fix the non-parole period as 4 years to commence on 28 March 2003 and to conclude on 27 March 2007, so that the prisoner will become eligible for parole on 27 March 2007. I recommend that a psychiatric assessment of the prisoner be undertaken and, in the event that this confirms the opinions expressed by the forensic psychiatrist and clinical psychologist called on behalf of the prisoner at the sentence hearing, that appropriate psychiatric treatment and psychological counselling be given to the prisoner.

CATCHWORDS : Manslaughter - Infant - Father - Killing of 3 month old baby by father - Death as a result of baby being shaken rapidly, strongly and excessively by father, accompanied by a throwing down onto furniture and striking the baby in the abdominal region with his fist - Serious case of manslaughter - Custodial sentence appropriate - Statistics - Use of statistics - Anticedents - Testimonials - Rehabilitation - Familial and presently incurable medical condition likely to shorten lifespan - Special circumstances. Crimes Act 1900, s 24(1) LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21(2), 21A, 22, 23, 24(a) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Standard Minimum Sentencing) Act 2002 Regina v Alexander (1995) 78 A Crim R 141 Regina v Blacklidge NSWCCA 12 December 1995, unreported Regina v Bilton [2000] NSWSC 923 and 1113 Regina v Ditfort NSWCCA 17 March 1992, unreported Regina v Dodd (1991-1992) 57 A Crim R 349 Regina v Hill (1980-1981) 3 A Crim R 397 Regina v Howard [2000] NSWSC 876 Regina v Howard [2001] NSWCCA 309 Regina v Isaacs (1997) 98 A Crim R 587 Regina v Low (1991-92) 57 A Crim R 8 Regina v Marshall NSWSC, 23 May 2003, unreported CASES CITED : Regina v Morabito (1992) 62 A Crim R 82 Regina v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270 Regina v Scott [2003] NSWCCA 28 Regina v Sempel NSWCCA, 31 March 1994, unreported Regina v Storey (1997) 89 A Crim R 519 Regina v Totten [2003] NSWCCA 207 Regina v Vangelder NSWCCA, 28 February 1994, unreported Regina v Vaughan (1991) 56 A Crim R 355 Regina v Whalan NSWCCA, 5 April 1991, unreported Regina v Woodland [2001] NSWSC 416. Savvas v The Queen (1995) 183 CLR 1 Wilson v The Queen (1991-1992) 174 CLR 313. PARTIES : Regina James Stuart Monroe FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 70054/02 COUNSEL : Crown - Mr R Herps Accused - Mr R Hoenig SOLICITORS : Crown - Ms L Viney (Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW)) Accused - Ms K Robinson (Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales)