R v Tuala [2015] NSWCCA 8

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Tuala [2015] NSWCCA 8 Hearing dates: 12 November 2014 Decision date: 13 February 2015 Before: Ward JA at [1]; Simpson J at [2]; Wilson J at [101] Decision: Crown appeal dismissed. Catchwords: APPEAL - sentencing - discharge of firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm - possession of prohibited and unregistered firearms - whether inadequate weight given to statutory maxima and non-parole periods - whether inadequate or excessive weight assigned to various sentencing considerations - attribution of weight assigned to primary judge - Bugmy v The Queen [2013] HCA 37

APPEAL - aggravating circumstances must be proved beyond reasonable doubt - use to be made of victim impact statements not subject to cross-examination - victim the subject of doubtful assessment of credibility - degree of injury, loss or harm not shown to be more substantial than ordinarily expected

CRIMINAL LAW - appeals - purpose of Crown appeals - Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen [2011] HCA 49 - no principle sought to be established identified - appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), Pt 3 Div 2, Pt 3 Div 3, Pt 4 Div 1A, s 21A, s 28, s 44(2) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 33A(1)(a) Firearms Act 1996 (NSW), s 7(1), s 36(1) Cases Cited: Aguirre v R [2010] NSWCCA 155 Bugmy v The Queen [2013] HCA 37; 249 CLR 571 Elyard v R [2006] NSWCCA 43; 2006 45 MVR 402 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; 244 CLR 462 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; 242 CLR 520 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Miller v R [2014] NSWCCA 34 Ollis v R [2011] NSWCCA 155 R v Bain [2006] NSWCCA 79; 161 A Crim R 36 R v Berg [2004] NSWCCA 300 R v Deng [2007] NSWCCA 216; 176 A Crim R 1 R v DH; R v AH [2014] NSWCCA 326 R v King [2004] NSWCCA 444; 150 A Crim R 409 R v MJB [2014] NSWCCA 195 R v Muldoon (NSWCCA, 13 December 1990, unreported) R v Porter [2008] NSWCCA 145 R v RKB (NSWCCA, 30 June 1992, unreported) R v Slack [2004] NSWCCA 128 R v Thomas [2007] NSWCCA 269 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; 49 NSWLR 383 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 R v Wilson [2005] NSWCCA 219 R v Youkhana [2004] NSWCCA 412 RP v R [2013] NSWCCA 192 Siganto v The Queen [1998] HCA 74; 194 CLR 656 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (Applicant) Alvin Tuala (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: G Rowling (Applicant) B Clark/S Hartford Davis (Respondent)