REGINA v. PHAM [2005] NSWCCA 314

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

REGINA v. PHAM [2005] NSWCCA 314 CITATION: This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): Thursday 25 August 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 12 September 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Sully J at 1; Hidden J at 3; Hall J at 4

DECISION: (a) grant leave to appeal against sentence; (b) appeal allowed; (c) sentence set below quashed; (d) in lieu thereof, sentence the applicant to imprisonment for eight years to commence 3 May 2004 and to expire on 2 May 2012; (e) set a non-parole period four years and six months to date from 3 May 2004 and to expire on 2 November 2008; (f) the applicant will accordingly be eligible for release on parole on 2 November 2008.

CATCHWORDS: Criminal law - import heroin - two-stage approach to sentencing - applicant's mental condition - mitigating factor - contended that the sentence was manifestly excessive - low level drug importer - factors in s.16A, Crimes Act

Customs Act 1901 (Cth) LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes Act 1912 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995

Markarian [2005] HCA 25 Wong & Leung (2001) 207 CLR 584 Dodd (1991) 57 A. Crim R. 349 Hemsley [2004] NSWCCA 228 Scognamiglio (1991) 56 A. Crim. R. 81 Henry (1999) 46 NSWLR 346 Jiminez [1999] NSWCCA 7 Tsiaras (1996) 1 VR 398 Lauritsen (2000) 114 A. Crim. R. 333 CASES CITED: Israil [2002] NSWCCA 255 Pearson [2004] NSWCCA 129 Pearce (CCA, unreported 1 November 1996) Engert (1999) 84 A. Crim. R. 67 Letteri (CCA, unreported 18 March 1992) Wong & Leung (1999) 48 NSWLR 340 Bezan (2004) 147 A. Crim. R. 430 Mas Rivadavia [2004] NSWCCA 284 Wong (2001) 207 CLR 584