R v Loveridge [2014] NSWCCA 120

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Loveridge [2014] NSWCCA 120 Hearing dates: 7 May 2014 Decision date: 04 July 2014 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Johnson J at [1]; R A Hulme J at [1] Decision: 1. Crown appeal allowed. 2. Sentences imposed in the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 8 November 2013 are quashed; 3. In their place, the Respondent is sentenced as follows: (i) for the offence of assault upon Matthew Serrao (Count 3) - sentenced to a fixed term of imprisonment of nine months commencing on 18 September 2012 and expiring on 17 June 2013; (ii) for the offence of assault upon Rhyse Saliba (Count 4) - sentenced to a fixed term of imprisonment of 11 months commencing on 18 March 2013 and expiring on 17 February 2014; (iii) for the offence of assault upon Aden Gazi (Count 5) - sentenced to a fixed term of imprisonment for 13 months commencing on 18 October 2013 and expiring on 17 November 2014; (iv) for the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon Marco Compagnoni (Count 2) - sentenced to imprisonment comprising a non-parole period of 16 months commencing on 18 July 2014 and expiring on 17 November 2015, with a balance of term of six months commencing on 18 November 2015 and expiring on 17 May 2016; (v) for the manslaughter of Thomas Kelly (Count 1) - sentenced to imprisonment comprising a non-parole period of seven years commencing on 18 November 2015 and expiring on 17 November 2022 with a balance of term of three years and six months commencing on 18 November 2022 and expiring on 17 May 2026. 4. The earliest date upon which the Respondent will be eligible for release on parole is 18 November 2022. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - sentence - Crown appeal - Respondent pleaded guilty and sentenced in relation to three counts of assault, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of manslaughter - offences occurred on a single evening during which substantially intoxicated Respondent repeatedly attacked randomly selected strangers on public streets with punches to face and head - second attack resulted in manslaughter - Respondent comprehended force of blow to deceased and observed victim prone on ground before running away and committing three further offences - young offender subject to conditional liberty - disadvantaged upbringing - whether sentencing Judge's reasons infected by specific errors - failure to take into account need for general deterrence in relation to crimes of violence committed by intoxicated persons against vulnerable and unsuspecting victims in public places - failure to take into account specific deterrence in circumstances where offender had unresolved aggression and alcohol issues, previous conviction and subject to conditional liberty - error in characterising offences as "spontaneous" and in failing to find intent to injure - individual sentences and total effective sentence failed to reflect gravity of offending - no single category of "one-punch" manslaughter cases revealing range of sentences - context, surrounding circumstances and consequences of offending conduct meant sentences manifestly inadequate - residual discretion should not be exercised - Respondent re-sentenced - total effective term of 13 years and eight months' imprisonment with non-parole period of 10 years and two months Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Cases Cited: AI v R [2011] NSWCCA 95 Attorney General's Reference No. 60 of 2009 (Appleby and Ors) [2009] EWCA Crim 2693; [2010] 2 Cr App R(S) 46 Barbaro v The Queen [2014] HCA 2; 88 ALJR 372 Bourke v R [2010] NSWCCA 22; 199 A Crim R 38 Bugmy v The Queen [2013] HCA 37; 87 ALJR 1022 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194; 79 NSWLR 1 Donaczy v R [2010] NSWCCA 143 Green v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; 244 CLR 462 Heitanen v R [2012] VSCA 173 Hili v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; 242 CLR 520 Hopley v R [2008] NSWCCA 105 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 KT v R [2008] NSWCCA 51; 182 A Crim R 571 Lowndes v The Queen [1999] HCA 29; 195 CLR 665 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; 228 CLR 357 MB v R [2013] NSWCCA 254 McIntyre v R [2009] NSWCCA 305; 198 A Crim R 549 Pattalis v R [2013] NSWCCA 171 Paxton v R [2011] NSWCCA 242; 219 A Crim R 104 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; 194 CLR 610 R v AEM [2002] NSWCCA 58 R v Blacklidge (NSWCCA, unreported, 12 December 1995) R v Carroll [2010] NSWCCA 55; 77 NSWLR 45 R v CMB [2014] NSWCCA 5 R v Dinh [2010] NSWCCA 74; 199 A Crim R 573 R v Duckworth [2012] EWCA Crim 1712; [2013] 1 Cr App R(S) 83 R v Fahda [2013] NSWCCA 86 R v Fidow [2004] NSWCCA 172 R v Folkes [2011] EWCA Crim 325; [2011] 2 Cr App R(s) 76 R v Gavel [2014] NSWCCA 56 R v GWM [2012] NSWCCA 240 R v Hernando [2002] NSWCCA 489; 136 A Crim R 451 at 458 R v Hoerler [2004] NSWCCA 184; 147 A Crim R 520 R v Huang [2010] NSWCCA 68; 200 A Crim R 419 R v JW [2010] NSWCCA 49; 77 NSWLR 7 R v Loveridge [2013] NSWSC 1638 R v McKenna [2007] NSWCCA 113 R v Mitchell; R v Gallagher [2007] NSWCCA 296; 177 A Crim R 94 R v Palu [2002] NSWCCA 381; 134 A Crim R 174 R v Qutami [2001] NSWCCA 353; 127 A Crim R 369 R v Smith [2007] NSWCCA 100 R v Wilkinson (No. 5) [2009] NSWSC 432 R v Williscroft [1975] VR 292 Reference By the Attorney General Under Section 36 Criminal Justice Act 1988 [2005] EWCA Crim 812 RR v R [2011] NSWCCA 235; 216 A Crim R 489 Ta'ala v R [2008] NSWCCA 132 The Queen v Lavender [2005] HCA 37; 222 CLR 67 Van Haltren v R [2008] NSWCCA 274; 191 A Crim R 53 ZZ v R [2013] NSWCCA 83 Texts Cited: New South Wales Barristers' Rules Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (Crown) Kieran Loveridge (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms N Noman SC (Crown) Mr PR Boulten SC; Ms LC Hutchison (Respondent) Solicitors: Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (Crown) Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (Respondent) File Number(s): 2012/223921 Publication restriction: Nil Decision under appeal Citation: R v Loveridge [2013] NSWSC 1638 Date of Decision: 2014-11-08 00:00:00 Before: Campbell J File Number(s): 2012/223921