Marsh v R [2015] NSWCCA 154

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Marsh v R [2015] NSWCCA 154 Hearing dates: 2 April 2015 Decision date: 09 July 2015 Before: Simpson JA at [1] Harrison J at [2] Adamson J at [203] Decision: (1) Dismiss the appeal against conviction. (2) Grant leave to appeal against sentence but dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal – murder – sentence of life imprisonment - appeal against conviction and sentence – whether demonstration video of USMC knife attack method wrongly admitted – whether evidence relevant or invited jury to engage in coincidence reasoning – whether probative value outweighed by danger of unfair prejudice – worst case category of murder – whether sentencing discretion miscarried by imposition of life sentence Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedures) Act 1999 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Evidence Act 1995 Cases Cited: Adam v The Queen [2001] HCA 57; (2001) 207 CLR 96 Campbell v R [2014] NSWCCA 175; (2014) 312 ALR 129 DSJ v R; NS v R [2012] NSWCCA 9; (2012) 215 A Crim R 349 Evans v The Queen [2007] HCA 59; (2007) 235 CLR 521 Festa v The Queen [2001] HCA 72; (2001) 208 CLR 593 Olbrich v The Queen [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v AN [2000] NSWCCA 372 R v BD (1997) 94 A Crim R 131 R v Burton [2013] NSWCCA 335 R v Cornwell [2003] NSWSC 660 R v Merritt [2004] NSWCCA 19; (2004) 59 NSWLR 557 R v Zhang [2005] NSWCCA 437 Raumakita v R [2011] NSWCCA 126 Smith v The Queen [2001] HCA 50; (2001) 206 CLR 650 Soames v R [2012] NSWCCA 188 Weiss v The Queen [2005] HCA 81; (2005) 224 CLR 300 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Walter Ciaran Marsh (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: W Terracini SC with R Armitage (Applicant) N Williams (Respondent)