R v Merrick (No 5) [2016] NSWSC 661

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Merrick (No 5) [2016] NSWSC 661 Hearing dates: 9 May 2016 Date of orders: 23 May 2016 Decision date: 23 May 2016 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Wilson J Decision: The offender is sentenced to imprisonment comprising a non-parole period of 8 years and 3 months and a balance of term of the sentence of 2 years and 9 months. The total term of imprisonment is one of 11 years.

The sentence will date from 22 March 2016. The offender will be eligible for release on parole upon the expiration of the non-parole period on 21 June 2024. The total term of the sentence will expire on 21 March 2027. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentence – manslaughter – verdict of guilty after trial – single blow occasioning death – domestic violence – question of the use to be made of victim impact statements – relevance of a conditional offer of plea of guilty prior to trial – importance of general deterrence Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ernest Munda v The State of Western Australia [2013] HCA 38; (2013) 249 CLR 600 Field v R [2015] NSWCCA 332 Hopley v R [2008] NSWCCA 105 Morton v R [2014] NSWCCA 8 R v AB [2011] NSWCCA 229 R v Blacklidge (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 12 December 1995, unrep) R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102; (2009) 52 MVR 528 R v Bryce (No 5) [2014] NSWSC 1184 R v Cardoso (2003) 137 A Crim R 535 R v Carroll; Carroll v R [2010] NSWCCA 55 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Fidow [2004] NSWCCA 172 R v Johnson [2003] NSWCCA 129 R v Lavender [2005] HCA 37; (2005) 222 CLR 67 R v Loveridge [2014] NSWCCA 120 R v Oinonen [1999] NSWCCA 310 R v Previtera (1997) 94 A Crim R 76 R v Thompson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2002) 49 NSWLR 383 The Queen v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 Villalon v R [2015] NSWCCA 229 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina Ross Albert Merrick Representation: Counsel: Mr B Campbell (Crown) Ms T Evers (Accused)