R v Barton [2007] NSWSC 651

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : R v Barton [2007] NSWSC 651

HEARING DATE(S) : 01/09/2006, 29/9/2006, 26/10/2006, 23/3/2007, 11/05/2007

JUDGMENT DATE : 29 June 2007

JUDGMENT OF : Buddin J

DECISION : In respect of count 1, the manslaughter of M., sentenced to a fixed term of 5 years imprisonment to commence on 13 September 2004 and to expire on 12 September 2009. In respect of count 3, the attempted murder of J., sentenced to a fixed term of 13 years imprisonment to commence on 13 March 2006 and to expire on 12 March 2017. In respect of count 2, the murder of N., sentenced to a non-parole period of 30 years to commence on 13 September 2009 and to expire on 12 September 2039 with the total term being one of 37 years which will expire on 12 September 2046. The overall effective non-parole period is thus one of 35 years and the effective total term is one of 42 years. The first date on which you will be eligible for parole will be 12 September 2039.

CATCHWORDS : Sentencing - offences of murder, attempted murder and manslaughter - Manslaughter by way of provocation - offender subjected to blackmail and threats by deceased over many years - offender sets fire to premises in which deceased's young children are asleep - one child dies - offender rescues other child - Murder - whether it falls within "worst category of offence" - whether maximum penalty should be imposed

LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999

Adanguidi v R [2006] NSWCCA 404 Johnson v R (2004) 205 ALR 346 Knight v R (2006) 164 A Crim R 126 MAH v R [2006] NSWCCA 226 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610 R v AJP (2004) 150 A Crim R 575 R v Alexander (1994) 78 A Crim R 141 R v Andrews (2006) 160 A Crim R 505 R v Apps [2006] NSWCCA 290 R v Aslett [2006] NSWCCA 360 R v Cheatham [2002] NSWCCA 360 R v Durocher-Yvon (2003) 58 NSWLR 581 R v FD & JD (2006) 160 A Crim R 392 R v Folbigg (2005) 152 A Crim R 35 R v Fraser [2004] NSWSC 53 R v Harris (2000) 50 NSWLR 409 R v Hill (1981) 3 A Crim R 397 CASES CITED : R v MA (2004) 145 A Crim R 434 R v McDonald (unreported, NSWCCA, 12 December 1995) R v Merritt (2004) 59 NSWLR 557 R v Miles [2002] NSWCCA 276 R v Mostyn (2004) 145 A Crim R 304 R v Park [2003] NSWCCA 142 R v Previtera (1997) 94 A Crim R 76 R v Sievers (2004) 151 A Crim R 426 R v Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704 R v SLD (2003) 58 NSWLR 589 R v Tiwary [2006] NSWSC 1156 R v Trevenna (2004) 149 A Crim R 505 R v Troja (unreported, NSWCCA, 16 July 1991) R v Velevski NSWSC unreported 26 September 1997 R v Villa [2005] NSWCCA 4 R v Wallace [2007] NSWCCA 63 R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 R v Yildiz (2006) 160 A Crim R 218