Sutton v R [2016] NSWCCA 249

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Sutton v R [2016] NSWCCA 249 Hearing dates: 26 October 2016 Decision date: 09 November 2016 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Fagan J at [65]; N Adams J at [66] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – where aggregate sentence imposed for offences of knowingly taking part in drug supply and possession of firearm – Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 7(1) – plea of guilty – where guilt admitted to Form 1 offences – possession of ammunition without permit, possession of unregistered firearm and possession of prohibited weapon (silencer) – appeal against severity of sentence – where at relevant time applicable standard non-parole period for firearms offence was three years – where standard non-parole period misstated by primary judge as four years – Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 6(3) – whether error requires re-exercise of sentencing discretion – whether finding of special circumstances should be made on basis of ill-health – gallstones – objective seriousness – where offences committed whilst on parole for armed robbery conviction – where primary judge found another person left revolver at applicant's home and no evidence of use or intended use by applicant – where pistol found with silencer and ammunition – where history of firearms and possession of prohibited weapon offences Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 61N Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 6 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 32, 44, 53A, 54B Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Firearms Offences) Act 2015 (NSW) Sch 1 Pt 5 Drug (Misuse and Trafficking) Act 1985 (NSW) s 25 Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) ss 4C, 7, 36, 65 Cases Cited: AB v R [2014] NSWCCA 31 Abbas v R [2014] NSWCCA 188 Anastasiou v R [2010] NSWCCA 100 Baxter v The Queen (2007) 173 A Crim R 284; [2007] NSWCCA 237 Douar v R (2005) 159 A Crim R 154; [2005] NSWCCA 455 House v R (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Leighton v R [2010] NSWCCA 280 Martin v R [2016] NSWCCA 104 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 R v Badanjak [2004] NSWCCA 395 R v Brown [2006] NSWCCA 249 R v Farrell [2015] NSWCCA 68 R v Howard [2004] NSWCCA 348 R v Mahmud [2010] NSWCCA 219 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Smith (1987) 44 SASR 587 R v XX [2009] NSWCCA 115 Thalari v R [2009] NSWCCA 170 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Applicant – Anthony Graham Sutton Crown Respondent – Director of Public Prosecutions Representation: Counsel: Applicant – Mr C Taylor Crown Respondent – E. Balodis