R v DOYLE [2006] NSWCCA 118

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: R v DOYLE [2006] NSWCCA 118

HEARING DATE(S): 27 February 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 13 April 2006

JUDGMENT OF: McClellan CJ at CL at 1; Rothman J at 7; Smart AJ at 43

DECISION: (A) Appeal be allowed; (B) The sentenced imposed by Phegan DCJ on 14 September 2005 be quashed and in lieu thereof the following sentence be imposed: (i) imprisonment for a non-parole period of 18 months commencing 14 September 2005 and expiring on 13 March 2007 with the balance of the term of a further 18 months to expire on 13 September 2008; (ii) The prisoner shall be released to parole on 13 March 2007 on the usual conditions relating thereto; (iii) The prisoner is disqualified from driving a motor vehicle for a period of three years commencing 18 September 2004 and expiring on 17 September 2007.

CATCHWORDS: Criminal Law - sentence - Crown appeal - aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm - aggravation high range PCA - relevance of depression or reason for consumption of alcohol - custodial sentence required

LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes Act 1900

R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 R v Pitt [2005] NSWCCA 304 R v Engert 1995) 84 A Crim R 67 R v AN [2005] NSWCCA 239 R v Letteri, NSWCCA, unreported, 18 March 1992 CASES CITED: R v Wall [2002] NSWCCA 42 R v Prasad (2004) 147 A Crim R 385 R v Abboud [2005] NSWCCA 251 R v AA [2006] NSWCCA 55 R v Whyte (2002) 55 NSWLR 252 Application by Attorney General re HIgh Range PCA (2004) 61 NSWLR 305 Douglass v R [2001] NSWCCA 250