Lam v R [2015] NSWCCA 143

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Lam v R [2015] NSWCCA 143 Hearing dates: 27 May 2015 Decision date: 17 June 2015 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] Johnson J at [85] Beech-Jones J at [86] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal be granted. (2) The appeal be dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentence appeal – importing a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug – whether opinion of psychologist wrongly rejected – whether denial of procedural fairness – factual basis for psychologist's opinion not made out – psychologist's conclusions going beyond his expertise – no denial of procedural fairness – sentencing judge entitled to reject psychologist's conclusions. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) – s 16A(1), s 16A(2) Criminal Code (Cth) – s 307.1(1) Evidence Act 1995 – s 79(1) Cases Cited: Cherdchoochatri v R [2013] NSWCCA 118; 277 FLR 126 Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawchar [2011] HCA 21; 243 CLR 588 Devaney v R [2012] NSWCCA 285 DPP (Cth) v De La Rosa ]2010] NSWCCA 194; 79 NSWLR 1 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] NSWCA 305; 52 NSWLR 705 O'Neil-Shaw v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 42 R v JCW [2000] NSWCCA 209; 112 A Crim R 466 Victims Compensation Fund Corporation v Nguyen [2001] NSWCA 264; 52 NSWLR 213 WW v R [2012] NSWCCA 165 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ho Fung Lam – Applicant Regina – Respondent Crown Representation: Counsel: Mr S Buchen – Applicant Mr C O'Donnell – Respondent Crown