Kearsley v Regina [2017] NSWCCA 28

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Kearsley v Regina [2017] NSWCCA 28 Hearing dates: 7 March 2017 Date of orders: 22 March 2017 Decision date: 22 March 2017 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1] Harrison J at [21] Schmidt J at [96] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Allow the appeal. (3) Set aside the sentence imposed on Mr Kearsley in the District Court on 26 August 2016. (4) Sentence Mr Kearsley to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 18 months commencing on 26 August 2016, with a non-parole period of 9 months. (5) Order that Mr Kearsley be released on parole on 26 May 2017, being the day that he will be eligible for release on parole. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal – appeal against sentence – offence of administer intoxicating substance with intent to commit indecent assault – sentencing judge erred in not properly assessing objective seriousness of offence – appellant resentenced CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – whether mental illness relevant to appellant's moral culpability where not causally connected to the offence – significance of general deterrence where appellant suffers psychiatric illness – Director of Public Prosecutions v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1 – R v Engert (1995) 84 A Crim R 67 CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – relevance of extra-curial punishment CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – offences contrary to ss 38 and 61L Crimes Act 1900 – offences of administer intoxicating substance with intent and indecent assault – very strong subjective case – subjective considerations must not cause inadequate weight to be given to objective circumstances – no other penalty than imprisonment appropriate – whether custodial sentence should be suspended Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Cases Cited: Baumer v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 51 Chayadi v R (2007) 168 A Crim R 41; [2007] NSWCCA 1 Delaney v R (2013) 230 A Crim R 581; R v Delaney [2013] NSWCCA 150 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Dodd v The Queen (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 Ibbs v The Queen (1987) 163 CLR 447 Iskander v R [2013] NSWCCA 235 Johnson v R (2004) 205 ALR 346; [2004] HCA 15 Kenny v R [2010] NSWCCA 6 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Kerr v R [2016] NSWCCA 218 Khoury v R [2011] NSWCCA 118 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Munda v Western Australia (2013) 249 CLR 600; [2013] HCA 38 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120;(2011) HCA 39 Pearce v R (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Phanekham v R [2015] NSWCCA 295 Power v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 623 at 628–629 Priovolidis v R [2016] NSWCCA 20 R v Brown [2012] NSWCCA 199 R v Campbell [2014] NSWCCA 102 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Engert (1995) 84 A Crim R 67 R v Omar [2015] NSWCCA 67 R v O'Sullivan (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW); Priestley JA, Enderby and Campbell JJ; 20 October 1989, unrep) R v Scott [2005] NSWCCA 152 R v Speechley (2012) 221 A Crim R 175; [2012] NSWCCA 130 R v Stoupe [2015] NSWCCA 175 R v TA (2003) 57 NSWLR 444; [2003] NSWCCA 191 R v Van Ryn [2016] NSWCCA 1 Category: Principal judgment Parties: John Henry Kearsley (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Game SC with C O'Neill (Applicant) N Adams (Respondent)