O'Connell v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 82

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: O'Connell v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 82

HEARING DATE(S): 8 February 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 27 March 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Grove J at 1; Simpson J at 81; Rothman J at 82

DECISION: APPEAL DISMISSED

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE - SENTENCE - MURDER - SERIOUSNESS OF CONDUCT PUTTING OFFENCE INTO WORST CATEGORY - LIFE SENTENCE APPROPRIATE BUT FOR YOUTH OF OFFENDER AND PLEA OF GUILTY - ERRORS BY SENTENCING JUDGE - SETTING NON PAROLE PERIOD AND INDEPENDENTLY SETTING BALANCE TERM LONGER THAN EQUIVALENT OF ONE THIRD OF THAT PERIOD - TAKING INTO ACCOUNT PROSECUTION EXPENDITURE OF TIME AND EFFORT WHEN ASSESSING DISCOUNT FOR EARLY PLEA OF GUILTY - WHETHER LESS SEVERE SENTENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED

LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Appeal Act 1912

Bugmy v The Queen 1990 169 CLR 525 R v Castles 2005 152 A Crim R 277 R v Dennis [2003] NSWCCA 137 R v Engert 1996 84 A Crim R 67 R v Franklin [2005] NSWCCA 24 R v GDR (1994) 35 NSWLR 376 R v Hampton (1998) 44 NSLWR 729 R v Hearne 2001 124 A Crim R 45 R v Hemsley [2004] NSWCCA 228 CASES CITED: R v Lynn [2004] NSWCCA 22 R v Moffitt (1990) 20 NSWLR 114 R v P [2004] NSWCCA 218 R v Pham 1999 55 A Crim R 128 R v Scoglnamglio 1991 56 A Crim R 81 R v Scott [2005] NSWCCA 286 R v SDM (2001) 51 NSWLR 530 R v Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704 R v Slater 2001 121 A Crim R 369 R v Thomson & Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168