CARNEY v REGINA [2008] NSWCCA 277

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: CARNEY v REGINA [2008] NSWCCA 277

HEARING DATE(S): Thursday 13 November 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 25 November 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Bell JA at 1; Blanch J at 2; Hall J at 3

DECISION: Leave to appeal granted. Appeal dismissed

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – SENTENCING – Appeal against severity of sentence – plea of guilty to one count of discharging firearm with intent to prevent lawful apprehension and other firearm offences – where applicant was suffering mental illness at the time of the offence – whether error in objective assessment of case as near worst category of case – whether error in finding operation of general deterrence only marginally reduced – whether sentence is manifestly excessive – consideration of impact of mental illness on sentencing exercise – general deterrence of less importance in this case although counter-balanced by other matters – sentence not manifestly excessive

Crimes Act 1900 LEGISLATION CITED: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Firearms Act 1996

Courtney v Regina [2007] NSWCCA 195; (2007) 172 A Crim R 371 Regina v Anderson [1981] VR 155; (1980) 2 A Crim R 379 Regina v Champion (1992) 64 A Crim R 244 Regina v Engert (1995) 84 A Crim R 67 Regina v Henry [1999] NSWCCA 111; (1999) 46 NSWLR 346 Regina v Israil [2002] NSWCCA 255 CASES CITED : Regina v Kilmartin (1989) 41 A Crim R 22 Regina v Lauritsen [2000] WASCA 203; (2000) 114 A Crim R 333 Regina v Matthews [2004] NSWCCA 112; (2004) 145 A Crim R 445 Regina v Mulato [2006] NSWCCA 282 Regina v Pitt [2005] NSWCCA 304 Regina v Scognamiglio (1991) 56 A Crim R 81 The Queen v Verdins [2007] VSCA 102