Ryan Gurney v Regina; Aaron Willetts v Regina [2011] NSWCCA 48

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ryan Gurney v Regina; Aaron Willetts v Regina [2011] NSWCCA 48 Hearing dates: 25th February 2011 Decision date: 30 March 2011 Before: Whealy JA at [1] Hidden J at [98] Johnson J at [100] Decision: In relation to Gurney: (1) Leave to appeal against sentence is granted (2) The appeal is dismissed. In relation to Willetts: (1) Extension of time in which to appeal is granted (2) Leave to appeal against sentence is granted (3) The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - severity appeal - murder - joint criminal enterprise - principles applicable - genital mutilation of victim - gratuitous cruelty - provocation - revenge killing - parity. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 18(1)(a), 19A(1), 195(1)(b) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s5(1)(c) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Pt 4 Div 1A, ss 21A(2), 21A(2)(f), 61(1) Cases Cited: R v Steer [2006] NSWSC 1198 R v Mitchell; R v Gallagher (2007) 177 A Crim R 94; [2007] NSWCCA 296 R v Pham [2005] NSWCCA 94 at [11] R v Kain [2004] NSWCCA 143 at [56] McCullough v R [2009] NSWCCA 94 at [30]; 194 A Crim R 439 at 447 Olbrich v R (1999) 199 CLR 270; 108 A Crim R 464; [1999] HCA 54 Carruthers v R [2007] NSWCCA 276 at [37] - [40] Lewins v R [2007] NSWCCA 189 at [7]; 175 A Crim R 40 at 42 Lowe v R [1984] HCA 46; 154 CLR 606 R v Swan [2006] NSWCCA 47 R v Wei Pan [2005] NSWCCA 114 Nguyen v R [2008] NSWCCA 308 at [37] Pavicevic v R [2010] ACTCA 25 at [10] Frigiani v R [2007] NSWCCA 81 at [24] Porter v R [2008] NSWCCA 145 England v R; Phanith v R [2009] NSWCCA 274 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ryan Gurney (First Appellant) Aaron Willets (Second Appellant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Davenport SC (First Appellant) S Buchen (Second Appellant) P Ingram SC (Crown) Solicitors: Legal Aid Commission NSW (Appellants) Director of Public Prosecutions (Crown) File Number(s): 2009/7985; 2009/8012 Decision under appeal Citation: [2009] NSWSC 1201 Before: Latham J File Number(s): SC 2009/7985 SC 2009/8012