Regina v Bezan [2004] NSWCCA 342

Reported Decision : 147 A Crim R 430

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : Regina v Bezan [2004] NSWCCA 342 HEARING DATE(S) : 21/9/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 13 October 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Wood CJ at CL at 1; Buddin J at 41; Shaw J at 42 DECISION : 1. Crown appeal allowed; 2. Sentence below set aside; 3. In lieu, sentence the Respondent to imprisonment for 8 years to commence from 24 August 2003, and to expire on 23 August 2011; 4. Set a non-parole period of 5 years to date from 24 August 2003, and to expire on 23 August 2008, which will be his earliest parole release eligibility date.

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - Crown appeal - import trafficable quantity of heroin - plea of not guilty - whether effect properly given to the consequences of the repeal of s 16G of the Crimes Act - whether the sentence imposed was objectively inadequate having regard to the seriousness of the offence - role of the Respondent in the importation - comparable sentences passed in like cases - appeal allowed. Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Legislation Amendment (People Smuggling, Firearms Trafficking and Other Measures) Act 2002 (Cth) Customs Act 1901 Everett v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 295 Griffiths v The Queen (1977) 137 CLR 293 Olbrich v The Queen (1999) 73 ALJR 1550 R v Bavadra (2000) 115 A Crim R 152 R v Dujeu [2004] NSWCCA 164 R v El Karhani (1990) 51 A Crim R 123 R v Kevenaar [2004] NSWCCA 210 R v Laurentiu and Becheru (1992) 63 A Crim R 402 R v Maclay (1990) 19 NSWLR 112 CASES CITED : R v Mas Rivadavia [2004] NSWCCA 284 R v Pont (2000) 121 A Crim R 302 R v Quoc Phang Dang [2004] NSWCCA 265 R v Saxon (1996) 86 A Crim R 353 R v Studenikin [2004] NSWCCA 164 R v Van Ich Dang [2004] NSWCCA 269 R v Whyte (2002) 55 NSWLR 252 Regina v Wong and Leung (1999) 48 NSWLR 340 R v Wong and Ng (1988) 39 A Crim R 1 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584 PARTIES : Regina Motjaba Bezan FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA CCAP 2004/1716; (formerly 60083/04) COUNSEL : R Bromwich (Crown) A Cook (Respondent) SOLICITORS : S Kavanagh (Crown) S E O'Connor (Respondent)