R v GREEN AND QUINN [2010] NSWCCA 313

Reported Decision: 207 A Crim R 148

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: R v GREEN AND QUINN [2010] NSWCCA 313

HEARING DATE(S): 30 July 2010

JUDGMENT DATE: 17 December 2010

JUDGMENT OF: Allsop P at 1; McClellan CJatCL at 25; Hulme J at 37; Latham J at 145; McCallum J at 1

(i) Allow the Crown appeal. DECISION: (ii) Quash the sentences imposed on the Respondents by Boulton ADCJ on 14 August 2009. (iii) Sentence the Respondent Brett Andrew Green to imprisonment for a non-parole period of 3 years commencing on 17 May 2009 together with a further term of 2 years commencing on 17 May 2012. (iv) Sentence the Respondent Shane Darrin Quinn to imprisonment for a non-parole period of 5 years commencing on 30 April 2008 together with a further term of 3 years commencing on 30 April 2013.

CATCHWORDS: Criminal Law - Sentencing - Appeal - Court of Criminal Appeal may create disparity between co-offenders - Departure from prior decisions - Large commercial quantity of cannabis plants - Utilitarian value of plea - What is earliest possible opportunity for plea - Need for finding as to objective seriousness - Sentences manifestly inadequate

Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act s23(2)(a), s33(3)(b) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, s54A LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes (Appeal and Review) Amendment (Double Jeopardy) Act 2009 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment Act (2007), ss 13, 16 ss 13 and 16 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment Act 2007,

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

R v Thompson and Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; R v Knight & Biuvanua [2007] NSWCCA 283 at [4]; R v McEvoy [2010] NSWCCA 110 at [75]; - not followed R v Sellars [2010] NSWCCA 133 at [8], [11]. R v El Chammas [2009] NSWCCA 154 at [25] R v Cannistra [2006] NSWCCA 389 Wong and Leung v R [2001] 207 CLR 584 at [64, 70]; Markarian v R [2005] 228 CLR 357 at [32]. R v MacDonnell [2002] 128 A Crim R 44 at [33]; Melikian v R [2008] NSWCCA 156 at [42] R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 at [132] R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v McIvor [2002] NSWCCA 490; (2002) 136 A Crim R 366, CASES CITED : Cvitan v R [2009] NSWCCA 156, Jimmy v R [2010] NSWCCA 60 at 203 Shen v R [2009] NSWCCA 251 at [33] R v Bavin [2001] NSWCCA 167 R v Guthrie [2002] NSWCCA 77 R v Harmouche (2005) 158 A Crim R 357 R v Harris [2007] NSWCCA 130 at [77] R v Elzakhem [2008] NSWCCA 31 at [62] R v Najem [2008] NSWCCA 32 R v Kumar and Feagaiga [2008] NSWCCA 328 Bulfin (1998) 101 A Crim R 40 R v Steele (unreported, CCA, 17 April 1997); R v Ismunandar and Siregar [2002] NSWCCA 477 R v Tisalandis, (1982) 2 NSWLR 430 at 439F R v Doan (2000) 50 NSWLR 115 at [20]