GS v R [2016] NSWCCA 266

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: GS v R [2016] NSWCCA 266 Hearing dates: 12 October 2016 Decision date: 30 November 2016 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Fagan J at [96]; N Adams J at [103] Decision: 1. Extend time for leave to appeal and grant leave to appeal.

2. Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing - appeal – severity of sentence – Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 61M(2) – guilty plea to three indecent assault offences and two similar Form 1 offences – where victims aged 6 and 9 years – sentences imposed while applicant serving existing sentence for unrelated conviction for aggravated sexual intercourse under s 61J(1) – where unrelated victim aged 11 years – where new sentences wholly cumulative on non-parole period of first sentence – whether totality principle not applied by sentencing judge – applicant of advanced age and ill-health with short life expectancy – need for sentence to reflect overall criminality

CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – appeal – whether sentences manifestly excessive – where finding that offending particularly serious – vast age discrepancy between applicant and victims – where aggravating factor – abuse of position of trust and authority – psychological and physical coercion – offences not isolated – brazen – separate victims – vulnerable due to young age – where degree of concurrency allowed – objective gravity of total criminality – whether accumulation on existing sentence or between new sentences unreasonably high – whether sentences unreasonable or plainly unjust Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 61E, 61J, 61M Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW) s 160 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 32, 21A, 44, 45 Cases Cited: Cahyadi v The Queen (2007) 168 A Crim R 41; [2007] NSWCCA 1 Collier v R [2012] NSWCCA 213 Convery v R [2014] NSWCCA 93 Dinsdale v The Queen 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 Gulyas v State of Western Australia (2007) 178 A Crim R 539; [2007] WASCA 263 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 LG v R [2012] NSWCCA 249 Lowndes v The Queen (1999) 195 CLR 665; [1999] HCA 29 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Mill v the Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1998] HCA 70 Nelson v R [2016] NSWCCA 130 Pearce v The Queen (1988) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 R v Crowley and Garner (1991) 55 A Crim R 201 R v CMB [2014] NSWCCA 5 R v Gallagher (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 29 November 1995, unrep) R v Gavel [2014] NSWCCA 56 R v Gommeson [2014] NSWCCA 159 R v Hammoud (2000) 118 A Crim R 66; [2000] NSWCCA 540 R v Holyoak (1995) 82 A Crim R 502 R v Katon [2008] NSWCCA 228 R v MAK (2006) 167 A Crim R 159; [2006] NSWCCA 381 R v MJK (2002) 54 NSWLR 368; [2002] NSWCCA 129 R v MMK (2006) 164 A Crim R 481; [2006] NSWCCA 272 R v XX (2009) 195 A Crim R 38; [2009] NSWCCA 115 R v Wicks [2005] NSWCCA 409 TDP v R; R v TDP [2013] NSWCCA 303 White v R [2016] NSWCCA 190 Williams v R [2016] NSWCCA 68 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Applicant – GS Respondent - Crown Representation: Counsel: Applicant – D Barrow Respondent – B Baker