Ismael Amado v R [2011] NSWCCA 197

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ismael Amado v R [2011] NSWCCA 197 Hearing dates: 28/07/2011 Decision date: 02 September 2011 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Basten JA at 1 Simpson J at 26 Garling J at 27 Decision: (1) Grant the applicant an extension of time to 19 May 2011 to file a notice of application for leave to appeal. (2) Grant leave to appeal against the sentence imposed for the offence of possessing a prohibited drug, namely, 14.95 grams of 3,4-MDMA. (3) Appeal allowed. (4) Quash the sentence imposed by Lakatos DCJ on 23 October 2009 and in lieu thereof order that the applicant enter into a good behaviour bond pursuant to s 9 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act for a term of nine months commencing on 23 October 2009. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - Possession of prohibited drug - Whether a penalty other than imprisonment appropriate - Whether decision to impose sentence of imprisonment elided with decision to impose suspended sentence - Whether quantity of drug in supply range significant - Whether futile to impose sentence effectively served - Suspended sentence quashed - Direction to enter good behaviour bond for same period as suspended sentence Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 Cases Cited: Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321 Elliot v Harris (No 2) (1976) 13 SASR O'Keefe v The Queen [1969] 2 QB 29 R v Blackman and Walters [2001] NSWCCA 121 R v Blackman and Walters [2001] NSWCCA 121 R v Foster [2001] NSWCCA 215 R v Zamagias [2002] NSWCCA 17 Regina v Foster [2001] NSWCCA 215 Regina v Gillan (1991) 54 A Crim R 475 Regina v P (1992) 39 FCR 276 Regina v Percy [1975] Tas SR 62 Regina v Zamagias [2002] NSWCCA 17 Stevens v Giersh (1976) 14 SASR 81 Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Crown Ismael Emilio Avalos Amado File Number(s): CCA 2009/10990 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2009-10-23 00:00:00 Before: Lakatos DCJ File Number(s): 2009/10990