Heatley v R [2008] NSWCCA 226

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: Heatley v R [2008] NSWCCA 226

HEARING DATE(S): 15 August 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 2 October 2008

JUDGMENT OF: McClellan CJ at CL at 1; Barr J at 57; Price J at 58

DECISION: 1. Leave to appeal granted. 2. Appeal dismissed.

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – Appeal against sentence – Manslaughter – Robbery armed with a dangerous weapon – Principle of totality – Guideline judgment R v Henry – Discount for voluntary disclosure of offence R v Ellis – Delay in sentencing process – Special circumstances by reason of mental illness – Principles relevant when sentencing offender who is suffering from mental illness – Prior 'criminal history' of accused – Whether sentencing judge erred in taking into account previous verdicts of not guilty by reason of mental illness – Whether previous verdicts of not guilty by reason of mental illness capable of disclosing continuing disobedience to the law – Utilitarian value of guilty plea – Characterisation of seriousness of robbery offence – Whether robbery could be characterised as a planned offence – Whether lesser sentence warranted in law

Crimes Act 1900 LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes (Sentencing) Act Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act.

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

R v Ellis (1986) 6 NSWLR 603 R v Engert (1996) 84 A Crim R 67 R v Hemsley [2004] NSWCCA 228 R v Pham [2005] NSWCCA 314 Pearce v R (1998) 194 CLR 160 R v Henry (1999) 46 NSWLR 346 Ryan v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 287 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 O'Keefe v R (1992) 60 A Crim R 201 CASES CITED : Irwin v R [2008] NSWCCA R v Price [2005] NSWCCA 285 R v Thomson and Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Stambolis [2006] NSWCCA 56; (2006) 160 A Crim R 510 R v Williams [2005] NSWCCA 99 R v Johnson [2005] NSWCCA 186 R v Ibrahimi [2005] NSWCCA 43 R v House [2005] NSWCCA 88 R v Elyard [2006] NSWCCA 43 R v Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704 R v Carlson (unreported, NSWSC, 16 October 1995)