Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Pelletier [2014] NSWLC 9

Local Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Pelletier [2014] NSWLC 9 Hearing dates: 24/07/2014 Decision date: 15 August 2014 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Henson DCJ, Chief Magistrate Decision: See [66] Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - negligent driving occasioning death - failure to keep a proper lookout - negligence more than momentary inattention - high moral culpability - relevance of conditions affecting offender's eyesight - common level of responsibility for public safety across all licence holders - no sliding scale of accountability based on potential impact of a physical impairment upon driving - prior good character - plea of guilty - remorse - no sentence other than imprisonment appropriate - referral for home detention suitability assessment Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 Cases Cited: Bonsu v R [2009] NSWCCA 316 Hughes v R [2008] NSWCCA 48 R v Barbetta [2008] NSWSC 688 R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Boswell and Other Appeals (1984) 3 All ER 353 R v Dhanhoa [2000] NSWCCA 257 R v Foster (2001) 33 MVR 565 R v Pyritz (1998) 29 MVR 90 R v Taylor [2000] NSWCCA 442 R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 R v Zamagias [2002] NSWCCA 17 Tsakonas v R [2009] NSWCCA 258 Texts Cited: Judicial Commission of NSW, Sentencing Bench Book Category: Sentence Parties: Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) Gordon Pelletier (the offender) Representation: Mr Johnson (for the offender) Mr Muller (for the DPP) Giddy & Crittenden Solicitors (for the offender) File Number(s): 2012/256200 Publication restriction: Nil