R (Cth) v Yuan [2015] NSWCCA 198

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R (Cth) v Yuan [2015] NSWCCA 198 Hearing dates: 17 June 2015 Decision date: 31 July 2015 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] Davies J at [68] Hamill J at [69] Decision: (1) The Crown appeal is allowed. (2) The sentence imposed by the District Court on 21 November 2014 is quashed. (3) In lieu thereof, the respondent is sentenced to imprisonment with a non-parole period of 10 years, commencing 20 September 2012 and expiring 19 September 2022, with a balance of term of 5 years, expiring 19 September 2027. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentence – Crown appeal – import commercial quantity of methamphetamine (55 kgs) – sentence of 10 years imprisonment with non-parole period of 6 years – whether sentence manifestly inadequate – early plea of guilty – considerable planning – offender occupied important position – offence committed for financial gain – no previous offences by offender – serious offence – need for general deterrence – important to set sentencing standards for an offence of this kind – sentence manifestly inadequate – need to re-sentence. Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) – s 5D Criminal Code (Cth) – s 307.1(1) Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) – s 16A(1) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 – s 21A(5A) Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen [2013] HCA 37; 249 CLR 571 Bui v DPP (Cth) [2012] HCA 1; 244 CLR 638 Carroll v The Queen [2009] HCA 13; 83 ALJR 579; 254 CLR 259 Chan, Lo and Nguyen v Regina [2010] NSWCCA 153 CMB v Attorney General (NSW) [2015] HCA 9; 89 ALJR 407 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194; 79 NSWLR 1 Everett v R [1994] HCA 49; 181 CLR 295 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; 244 CLR 462 Griffiths v R [1977] HCA 44; 137 CLR 293 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; 242 CLR 520 House v R [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Phuong Bich Nguyen v R; Phommalysack v R [2011] VSCA 32; 31 VR 673 Postiglione v The Queen [1997] HCA 26;189 CLR 295 R v Barrientos [1999] NSWCCA 1 R v Brown [1999] NSWCCA 323 R v Craig Meyboom [2012] ACTCA 48 R v DH; R v AH [2014] NSWCCA 326 R v Dinh [2010] NSWCCA 74; 199 A Crim R 573 R v JW [2010] NSWCCA 49; 77 NSWLR 7 R v Lee [2007] NSWCCA 234 R v Leroy (1984) 2 NSWLR 441 R v Nguyen; R v Pham [2010] NSWCCA 238; 205 A Crim R 106 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; 199 CLR 270 R v PGM [2008] NSWCCA 172; 187 A Crim R 152 R v Tam [2013] WASCSR 226 R v Tuala [2015] NSWCCA 8 R v TW [2011] ACTCA 25; 6 ACT LR 18 Ryan v R [2001] HCA 21; 206 CLR 267 Thi Kim Phung Nguyen v R [2012] VSCA 119 Wong v The Queen [2001] HCA 64; 207 CLR 584 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (Cth) – Applicant Crown Ziyi Yuan - Respondent Representation: Counsel: Mr TD Anderson – Applicant Crown Mr G James QC/Mr J Kalantar - Respondent