Tiknius v R [2011] NSWCCA 215

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Tiknius v R [2011] NSWCCA 215 Hearing dates: 13 May 2011 Decision date: 22 September 2011 Before: Tobias AJA at 1 Johnson J at 2 Hall J at 104 Decision: Leave to appeal against sentence granted. Sentences imposed at the Sydney District Court on 6 November 2009 quashed. On the second count, the Applicant is sentenced to imprisonment for five years commencing on 23 January 2008 and expiring on 22 January 2013. On the first count, the Applicant is sentenced to imprisonment for eight years commencing on 23 January 2009 and expiring on 22 January 2017. Pursuant to s.19AB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) , a single non-parole period of five years is fixed, commencing on 23 January 2008 and expiring on 22 January 2013. The Applicant will be eligible for release on parole on 23 January 2013. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - sentence - pleas of guilty - aid and abet importation of commercial quantity of border controlled drug (amphetamine) - possession of unlawfully imported marketable quantity of border controlled drug (MDMA) - findings by sentencing Judge that Applicant subject to threats of harm to self and girlfriend unless he became involved in offences - Applicant an educated Lithuanian with no criminal history - whether adequate weight given to finding of duress on sentence - relevance of non-exculpatory duress as a factor on sentence - need to assess seriousness of offences in light of findings of duress - need to consider form and duration of criminal conduct, nature of threats made and opportunities available to Applicant to report matter to relevant authorities - importance of general deterrence - error established - Applicant resentenced Legislation Cited: Criminal Code (Cth) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Cases Cited: R v Liu [2005] NSWCCA 378 El-Charr v R [2007] NSWCCA 16 R v Riddell [2009] NSWCCA 96; 194 A Crim R 524 R v Z [2005] UKHL 22; (2005) 2 AC 467 The Queen v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; 199 CLR 270 R v Razzak [2006] NSWSC 1366; 166 A Crim R 132 Le v R [2007] NSWCCA 330 R v Abusafiah (1991) 24 NSWLR 531 R v Nguyen [2008] NSWCCA 22; 181 A Crim R 72 R v Oblach [2005] NSWCCA 440; 65 NSWLR 75 R v Lorenz (1998) 146 FLR 369 R v Day [2009] SASC 84 R v Way [2004] NSWCCA 131; 60 NSWLR 168 R v Kaldor [2004] NSWCCA 425; 150 A Crim R 271 R v Nguyen; R v Pham [2010] NSWCCA 238; 205 A Crim R 106 R v Taonis (1974) 59 Cr App R 160 R v Tapasa (NSWCCA, 31 October 1997, unreported) R v N [1999] NSWCCA 187; 106 A Crim R 493 R v Liu [2005] NSWCCA 378 R v Stankovic [2006] NSWCCA 229 R v Huynh [2008] NSWCCA 16 Taiapa v The Queen [2009] HCA 53; 240 CLR 95 Anna Le v R [2006] NSWCCA 136 R v Brown (1986) 43 SASR 33 R v Trocko (SASC, 18 April 1988, BC8800351) R v Roach [2005] VSCA 162 Khoury v R [2011] NSWCCA 118 Ryan v R [2009] NSWCCA 183 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; 49 NSWLR 383 Cahyadi v R [2007] NSWCCA 1 Cameron v The Queen [2002] HCA 6; 209 CLR 339 Texts Cited: --- Category: Principal judgment Parties: Atas Tiknius (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Mr T Game SC (Applicant) Mr D Staehli SC (Respondent) Michael Doughty (Applicant) Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (Respondent) File Number(s): 2009/917 2009/918 Publication restriction: --- Decision under appeal Citation: --- Date of Decision: 2009-11-06 00:00:00 Before: Sweeney DCJ File Number(s): 2009/11/0038