Villalon v R [2015] NSWCCA 229

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Villalon v R [2015] NSWCCA 229 Hearing dates: 3 August 2015 Date of orders: 26 August 2015 Decision date: 26 August 2015 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Adams J at [88]; Fagan J at [89] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal against sentence.

(2) Appeal allowed.

(3) The sentence imposed in the Supreme Court on 18 September 2014 is quashed.

(4) The applicant is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 7 years 6 months with a non-parole period of 5 years 1 month commencing on 28 February 2012 and expiring on 27 March 2017, with a balance of term of 2 years 5 months commencing on 28 March 2017 and expiring on 27 August 2019. The applicant will become eligible for release on parole at the end of the non-parole period. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal – sentencing – discount for guilty plea – whether offer to plead guilty to manslaughter indicated at earliest reasonable opportunity – no circumstances eroding utilitarian value of guilty plea – offer to plead guilty made during committal proceedings – sentencing judge erred in discounting head sentence by 20% rather than 25%

CRIMINAL LAW – appeal – sentencing – non-parole period – whether primary judge erred by determining non-parole period prior to determining head sentence and taking into account special circumstances – sentencing judge made no such error Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 23A, 24 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 22, 21A, 44 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 6(3) Cases Cited: Douar v R [2005] NSWCCA 455; 159 A Crim R 154 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Kentwell v The Queen [2014] HCA 37; 252 CLR 601 Markham v R [2007] NSWCCA 295 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; 244 CLR 120 Musgrove v R [2007] NSWCCA 21; 167 A Crim R 424 Pitt v R [2014] NSWCCA 70 R v AB [2011] NSWCCA 229; 59 MVR 356 R v BA [2014] NSWCCA 148 R v Blacklidge (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 12 December 1995, unrep) R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102; 195 A Crim R 1 R v Cardoso [2003] NSWCCA 15; 137 A Crim R 535 R v Chen [2012] NSWSC 1000 R v Dawes [2004] NSWCCA 363 R v Dennis; R v Elwood [2014] NSWSC 1615 R v Forbes [2005] NSWCCA 377; 160 A Crim R 1 R v Harmouche [2005] NSWCCA 398; 158 A Crim R 357 R v Hollaway [2013] NSWSC 218 R v Huynh [2005] NSWCCA 220 R v Kain [2013] NSWSC 638 R v Moffitt (1990) 20 NSWLR 114 R v Oinonen [1999] NSWCCA 310 R v P [2004] NSWCCA 218 R v Pennisi [2001] NSWCCA 326 R v Stambolis [2006] NSWCCA 56; 160 A Crim R 510 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; 49 NSWLR 383 R v Tobar [2004] NSWCCA 391; 150 A Crim R 104 Trujillo-Mesa v R [2010] NSWCCA 201 Williams v R; Saunders v R [2006] NSWCCA 33 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michael Villalon (Applicant) Regina (Crown) Representation: Counsel: G Bashir SC (Applicant) N Noman SC (Respondent)