AM v R [2012] NSWCCA 203

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: AM v R [2012] NSWCCA 203 Hearing dates: 12 September 2012 Decision date: 20 September 2012 Before: McClellan CJ at CL at [1] Johnson J at [2] Garling J at [94] Decision: Leave to appeal against sentence granted. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - appeal - sentence - causing grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm - plea of guilty - juvenile offender - unprovoked attack upon innocent stranger - victim punched repeatedly to the face - prone victim then kicked and stomped on the head - victim sustains traumatic brain injury - permanent cognitive impairment - applicant had no prior criminal history - troubled and dysfunctional background - head sentence of seven years with three year non-parole period - whether head sentence manifestly excessive - objective gravity of offence - relevance of youth, rehabilitation, specific and general deterrence - head sentence not manifestly excessive - appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2008 Cases Cited: BP v R [2010] NSWCCA 159; 201 A Crim R 379 KT v R [2008] NSWCCA 51; 182 A Crim R 571 R v Fernando (1992) 76 A Crim R 58 Fajloun v R [2011] NSWCCA 41 R v Zhang [2004] NSWCCA 358 R v Mitchell [2007] NSWCCA 296; 177 A Crim R 94 R v Zamagias [2002] NSWCCA 17 R v Zoef [2005] NSWCCA 268 R v Williams [2004] NSWCCA 246; 148 A Crim R 325 Heron v R [2006] NSWCCA 215 R v Overall (1993) 71 A Crim R 170 Haoui v R [2008] NSWCCA 209; 188 A Crim R 331 R v Kirkland [2005] NSWCCA 130 R v Bobak [2005] NSWCCA 320 Testalamuta v R [2007] NSWCCA 258 R v Westerman [2004] NSWCCA 161 Matzick v R [2007] NSWCCA 92 R v Woods (NSWCCA, 9 October 1990, unreported) Ashe v R [2010] VSCA 119 R v Ross [2007] VSCA 213; 17 VR 80 R v Wright [1998] VSCA 84 Director of Public Prosecutions v Lawrence [2004] VSCA 154; 10 VR 125 Taskiran v R [2011] VSCA 358 AI v R [2011] NSWCCA 95 Hili v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; 242 CLR 520 R v Sellars [2010] NSWCCA 133 Category: Principal judgment Parties: AM (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms HLA Cox (Applicant) Ms TL Smith (Respondent) Solicitors: Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (Applicant) Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (Respondent) File Number(s): 2010/226909 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2011-09-09 00:00:00 Before: Keleman DCJ File Number(s): 2010/226909 2010/120960