R v Tiwary [2009] NSWSC 1415

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : R v Tiwary [2009] NSWSC 1415

HEARING DATE(S) : 13 November 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 17 December 2009

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

1. For the murder of Chow Lyang Tay, sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 25 years comprising a non-parole period of 18 years and three months commencing on 28 May 2004 and expiring on 27 August 2022 with a balance of term of six years and nine months commencing on 28 May 2022 and expiring on 27 May 2029. DECISION : 2. For the murder of Poh Chuan Tan, sentenced to imprisonment comprising a non-parole period of 30 years commencing on 28 May 2012 and expiring on 27 May 2042, with a balance of term of 10 years commencing on 28 May 2042 and expiring on 27 May 2052. 3. The earliest date upon which Ram Puneet Tiwary will be eligible for parole is 28 May 2042.

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - sentence after trial - two counts of murder - murder of two flatmates - attacks upon victims using softball bat and knife - time gap between murders - whether life imprisonment appropriate for second murder - determinate sentence imposed

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

CATEGORY : Sentence

R v Tiwary [2006] NSWSC 1156 Tiwary v R [2008] NSWCCA 319 Cheung v The Queen [2001] 209 CLR 1 The Queen v Olbrich [1999] 199 CLR 270 De Gruchy v The Queen [2002] 211 CLR 85 R v Vjestica [2008] VSCA 47; 182 A Crim R 350 R v Gilmore (1979) 1 A Crim R 416 R v Merritt (2004) 59 NSWLR 557 R v Mehta [2009] NSWSC 814 CASES CITED : Ta'ala v R [2008] NSWCCA 132 R v Hill [2003] NSWCCA 128 R v Villa [2005] NSWCCA 4 R v Harris (2000) 50 NSWLR 409 R v Previtera (1997) 94 A Crim R 76 R v Bollen (1998) 99 A Crim R 510 R v Harris (2000) 50 NSWLR 409 R v Folbigg (2005) 152 A Crim R 35 R v AEM [2002] NSWCCA 58 R v Knight (2005) 155 A Crim R 242 at 272