Lee, Matthew v R [2016] NSWCCA 146

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Lee, Matthew v R [2016] NSWCCA 146 Hearing dates: 8 April 2016 Decision date: 28 July 2016 Before: Basten JA and McCallum J at [1]; Davies J at [57] Decision: (1) Extend time for commencement of the application for leave to appeal to 20 January 2016.

(2) Grant leave to appeal.

(3) Allow the appeal and quash the sentence imposed in the District Court on 21 March 2014.

(4) Resentence the offender as follows:

(a) Impose an aggregate sentence of 8 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 5 years 4 months commencing on 20 December 2012 and an additional term of 2 years 8 months. (b) The applicant is first eligible to be released to parole on 20 April 2018. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal – sentencing – offender entitled to discount of 25% for early guilty plea – failure of sentencing judge to refer to discount in reasons – whether discount applied – error requiring resentencing Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 193B Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 166 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW), ss 25, 25A, 36Z Firearms Act 1996 (NSW), ss 7, 62 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: Convery v R [2014] NSWCCA 93 Douglass v The Queen [2012] HCA 34; 86 ALJR 1086 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Opacic v R [2013] NSWCCA 294 Public Service Board of New South Wales v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656 R v Keyte (2000) 78 SASR 68 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 Regina v Lawrence [2005] NSWCCA 91 Resource Pacific Pty Ltd v Wilkinson [2013] NSWCA 33 Woodward v The Queen [2014] NSWCCA 205 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Robert Lee (Appellant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Carroll (Appellant) N Adams (Crown)