R v Harris [2015] NSWCCA 81

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Harris [2015] NSWCCA 81 Hearing dates: 16 April 2015 Decision date: 01 May 2015 Before: Basten JA at [1] R A Hulme J at [2] Adamson J [3] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed.

(2) Quash the sentences imposed by Wells DCJ on 19 August 2014 and, in lieu thereof, sentence the respondent to an aggregate term of 7 years 6 months with a non-parole period of 5 years 6 months to commence on 15 August 2013. The earliest date on which the respondent will be eligible for release is 14 February 2019. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – Crown appeal against sentence – s 5D Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) – dangerous driving causing death of three people and grievous bodily harm to a fourth – decision to drive while affected by drugs which tended to induce epileptic fit – extent to which long-standing frontal lobe injury affected judgment – whether individual or total sentences manifestly inadequate – relevance of guideline judgment in R v Whyte [2002] NSWCCA 343 – Crown discharged onus of establishing that residual discretion ought not be exercised Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 52A(1)(c), 52A(3)(c), 154A(1)(a) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5D(1) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 21A, 37A Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW), s 12(1) Cases Cited: CMB v Attorney-General (NSW) [2015] HCA 9 Dinsdale v The Queen [2000] HCA 54; 202 CLR 321 Georgopolous v R [2010] NSWCCA 246 Griffiths v The Queen [1977] HCA 44; 137 CLR 293 Khoury v R [2011] NSWCCA 118 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; 244 CLR 120 R v Campbell [2014] NSWCCA 102 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Geddes (1936) 36 SR (NSW) 554 R v Gillett [2006] NSWCCA 370 R v Hernando [2002] NSWCCA 489 R v Sivell [2009] NSWCCA 286 R v Whyte [2002] NSWCCA 343; 55 NSWLR 252 Veen v The Queen (No. 2) [1988] HCA 14; 164 CLR 465 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (Applicant) Malcolm Harris (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Ingram SC (Crown) T Gartelmann (Respondent)