Fitzgerald v R [2015] NSWCCA 266

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Fitzgerald v R [2015] NSWCCA 266 Hearing dates: 24 September 2015 Decision date: 09 October 2015 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] Price J at [53] Button J at [54] Decision: Leave to appeal granted. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentence appeal – four counts of possessing child abuse material and two counts of using a carriage service to access child pornography – over 1,145 items including 390 videos – 700 - 800 child victims – 25 percent of items in the most serious category – challenge to assessment of objective seriousness by sentencing judge – whether sentence was manifestly excessive – analysis of similar cases – appeal dismissed. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – s 91H(2) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) – s 16A, s 28(1)(b) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 – s 21A Commonwealth Criminal Code – s 474.19(1)(a)(i) Cases Cited: House v The King [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 Martin v Regina [2014] NSWCCA 124 Mulato v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 282 R v Booth [2009] NSWCCA 89 R v De Leeuw [2015] NSWCCA 183 R v Gent [2005] NSWCCA 370; 162 A Crim R 29 R v Lee [2013] WASCA 216 R v Linardon [2014] NSWCCA 247 R v Martin [2014] NSWCCA 283 R v Minehan [2010] NSWCCA 140; 201 A Crim R 243 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Fitzgerald – Applicant Regina – Respondent Crown Representation: Counsel: JJ Tunks – Applicant P McGuire – Respondent Crown