SALAH, Dror v R [2009] NSWCCA 2

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: SALAH, Dror v R [2009] NSWCCA 2

HEARING DATE(S): 2 October 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 2 February 2009

JUDGMENT OF: Bell JA at 1; Rothman J at 2; Price J at 45

(i) Leave to appeal be granted;

(ii) The appeal against the sentence imposed by his Honour Johnson J be allowed only to the extent necessary to comply with s 44 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999; DECISION: (iii) The sentence imposed by Johnson J on Mr Dror Salah on 4 April 2008 be quashed and in lieu thereof Mr Salah be sentenced for the manslaughter of Hernan Dario Guelman to a non-parole period of 5 years and 9 months commencing 7 August 2006 and expiring on 6 May 2012 with the balance of term of 3 years expiring on 6 May 2015. Mr Salah remains first eligible for parole on 6 May 2012;

(iv) Otherwise the appeal be dismissed.

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal – sentencing – discount for plea – manifest excess – finding of fact – objectively serious offence – allowance for provocation and protective custody – sentence within range – re-sentence to comply with s 44 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, otherwise appeal dismissed

LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Appeal Act 1912

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

R v Ahmad [2006] NSWCCA 177 R v Blacklidge (Court of Criminal Appeal, Gleeson CJ, 12 December 1995, unreported) R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Edwards (1996) 90 A Crim R 510 CASES CITED : R v Harmouche [2005] NSWCCA 398; (2005) 158 A Crim R 357 R v Hill (1981) 3 A Crim R 397 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; 199 CLR 270 R v Thompson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; 115 A Crim R 104 R v Warren Alan Forbes [2005] NSWCCA 377; (2005) 160 A Crim R 1 R v Way [2004] NSWCCA 131; (2004) 60 NSWLR 168