Regina v Michael Lenard; Regina v Michael Fail [2006] NSWCCA 345

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: Regina v Michael Lenard; Regina v Michael Fail [2006] NSWCCA 345

HEARING DATE(S): 30 October 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 1 November 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Sully J at 30; Hislop J at 31

DECISION: See paragraph 29

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – intent to influence witness – threats made to procure change of witness statement – integrity of criminal justice system – importance of general deterrence - CRIMINAL LAW – demand money with menaces – extortion campaign – money demanded in exchange for return of witness' property - SENTENCING – Crown appeal against manifest inadequacy of sentences – objective criminality – consideration of objective seriousness and subjective circumstances – totality principle – whether some other sentence warranted in law - SENTENCING – calculation of non-parole period – special circumstances – departure from statutory ratio

LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 99(1), 323(a) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 6(3)

Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 Johnson v The Queen (2004) 78 ALJR 616; [2004] HCA 15 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 R v Allpass (1993) 72 A Crim R 561 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 CASES CITED: R v Elfar [2003] NSWCCA 358 R v Holder and Johnston [1983] 3 NSWLR 245 R v McGourty [2002] NSWCCA 335 R v Qutami (2001) 127 A Crim R 369; [2001] NSWCCA 353 R v Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704; [2001] NSWCCA 534 R v Tait (1979) 46 FLR 386 Wong and Leung v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64