LAW, Chun Hing v REGINA [2006] NSWCCA 100

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: LAW, Chun Hing v REGINA [2006] NSWCCA 100

HEARING DATE(S): 13 February 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 4 April 2006

JUDGMENT OF: McClellan CJ at CL at 1; James J at 82; Buddin J at 83

DECISION: Appeal dismissed

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW - appeal against severity of sentence - importation of not less than the commercial quantity of heroin - extensive drug importation operation - case in the worst category - ongoing and open ended conspiracy to import heroin - whether a justifiable sense of grievance due to disparity with co-offenders - whether error in failing to take into account unavailability of remissions - whether sentence manifestly excessive - review of decisions in relation to serious drug importation offences

LEGISLATION CITED: Customs Act 1901 Crimes Act (Cth)

Lee Vanit v The Queen (1997) 190 CLR 378 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 R v Bartle & Ors (2003) 181 FLR 1 R v Campillo Vaquere [2004] NSWCCA 271 R v Cheung Ying-Lun (1999) 154 FLR 259 R v Chung Tak Chan [2005] NSWCCA 154 R v De La Espriella-Velasco [2002] WASCA 131 R v Flavel [2001] NSWCCA 227 R v Gonzalez-Betes [2001] NSWCCA 226 CASES CITED: R v Ismunandar and Siregar (2002) 136 A Crim R 206 R v Kelleher (1996) 89 A Crim R 215 R v Mooseek [1995] VCC 318 R v Neale (2004) 148 A Crim R 493 R v Ng [2001] NSWCCA 305 R v Perrier (No 2) (1991) 1 VR 717 R v Reaves (2004) 147 A Crim R 26 R v Stanbouli (2003) 141 A Crim R 531 R v Suarez-Mejia (2002) 131 A Crim R 577 R v Tisilandis (1982) 2 NSWLR 430 R v Wei Ming Chen and R v Khong Hoi Lau (2002) 130 A Crim R 300 Wangsaimas & Ors v R (1996) 133 FLR 272