R v KNIGHT R v BIUVANUA [2007] NSWCCA 283

Reported Decision: 176 A Crim R 338

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: R v KNIGHT R v BIUVANUA [2007] NSWCCA 283

HEARING DATE(S): 14 August 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 24 September 2007

JUDGMENT OF: McClellan CJ at CL at 1; Hidden J at 7; Howie J at 9

DECISION: Knight appeal 1. Crown appeal allowed; 2. The sentence imposed in District Court is quashed; 3. In lieu the respondent is sentenced to a term of imprisonment made up of a non-parole period of 10 years and a balance of term of 4 years and 4 months. The sentence is to date from 29 September 2005 and the non-parole period is to expire on 28 September 2015 the date upon which the respondent is eligible to be released on parole Biuvanua appeal; Appeal dismissed

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – Crown appeal against sentence – supply ecstasy – husband and wife co-offenders – complaint about departure from the standard non parole period – parity between co-offenders – strong subjective case for wife – objective criminality assessed as "at least mid range" – whether the non-parole period imposed reflected the objective criminality – whether sentence was manifestly inadequate

LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999

Daniel Robert Vos v R [2006] NSWCCA 234 Dominey v R [2006] NSWCCA 222 Le Huynh v R [2006] NSWCCA 77 Lovell v R MLP v R [2006] NSWCCA 271 R v AJP (2004) 150 A Crim R 575 R v BSW [2007] NSWCCA 59 CASES CITED: R v MD, BM, NA & JT (2005) 156 A Crim R 372 R v Mills (2005) 154 A Crim R 230 R v Moore and Weibe (NSWCCA 11 August 1992, unreported) R v Pearce (1998) 194 CLR 610 R v Saba [2006] NSWCCA 214 R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 R v Witchard [2007] NSWCCA 167 R v Zegura [2006] NSWCCA 230 Reaburn v R [2007] NSWCCA 60