R v Anderson [2016] NSWSC 399

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Anderson [2016] NSWSC 399 Hearing dates: 16-17 November 2015; 26 February 2016; 10 March 2016 Date of orders: 08 April 2016 Decision date: 08 April 2016 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Hall J Decision: The offender is convicted of the offence of manslaughter. Sentence: (1) A term of imprisonment of 12 years 9 months comprising a non-parole period of 9 years 6 months commencing on 3 August 2013 and concluding on 2 February 2023; (2) With a balance of term of 3 years 3 months expiring on 2 May 2026. The offender will become eligible for release on parole when the non-parole period expires on 2 February 2023. Catchwords: SENTENCING – manslaughter – offence of excessive defence manslaughter – perception of circumstances by the offender – belief of need to act in self-defence – deceased partner (the victim) approached with knife subsequent to aggression and violent conduct of the offender – deceased's actions did not constitute provocation but were responsive to offender's conduct – offender grabbed knife from deceased and inflicted fatal stab wound – changed circumstances relevant to the gross disproportion of the offender's response to deceased's actions – offence of excessive self-defence manslaughter involved a high order of objective criminality Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Cases Cited: Aslett v R [2006] NSWCCA 360 Grant v R [2014] NSWCCA 67 Hiron v R [2007] NSWCCA 336 Markarian v The Queen (2005) HCA 25; 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Pitts v R [2014] NSWCCA 244 R v AEM [2002] NSWCCA 58 R v Blacklidge (Court of Criminal Appeal, 12 December 1985, unreported) R v Dawes [2004] NSWCCA 363 R v Edigarov [2001] 125 A Crim R 551 R v Forbes [2005] NSWCCA 377 R v Hamid [2006] NSWCCA 302 R v Hillsley [2006] NSSWCCA 312 R v Loveridge [2014] NSWCCA 120 at [227] R v Moysten [2004] NSWCCA 97 R v Oinonen [1999] NSWCCA 310 R v Palu [2002] NSWCCA 381; 134 A Crim R 174 R v Pennisi [2001] NSWCCA 326 R v Previtera (1997) 94 A Crim R 76 R v Qutami [2001] NSWCCA 353; 127 A Crim R 369 R v Tuala [2015] NSWCCA 8 R v Weinman (1987) 49 SASR 248 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 Shaw v R [2008] NSWCCA 58 Smith v R [2015] NSWCCA 193 Van Der Bann v R [2012] NSWCCA 5 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina (Crown) Christopher John Anderson (Offender) Representation: Counsel: V Lydiard (Crown) C Waterstreet (Offender)