Harper v R [2017] NSWCCA 159

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Harper v R [2017] NSWCCA 159 Hearing dates: 28 June 2017 Decision date: 05 July 2017 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1]; R A Hulme J at [2]; Garling J at [52] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal against sentence granted. 2. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal against sentence - break, enter and commit a serious indictable offence in company whilst armed with a dangerous weapon contrary to s 112(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 –whether sentence manifestly excessive – strong subjective case – sentencing judge found the offence to be "serious" and "below the middle of the range" – contention that judge found substantially below the middle of the range rejected – sentencing statistics of no assistance – no meaningful range to be found in so-called comparable cases – sentence not manifestly excessive – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 4(1), 112(3), 195(1)(a) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) s 3A Cases Cited: Aslett v R [2012] NSWCCA 235 De Jong v R; Tuimaualuga v R; Zechel v R; Puru v R [2015] NSWCCA 32; 249 A Crim R 252 Dinsdale v The Queen [2000] HCA 54; 202 CLR 321 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; 242 CLR 520 Lowndes v The Queen [1999] HCA 29; 195 CLR 665 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; 228 CLR 357 R v Baghdadi [2008] NSWCCA 239 R v Campbell [2014] NSWCCA 102 R v Chaaban [2006] NSWCCA 107 R v Cheh [2009] NSWCCA 134 R v Dole; R v Nguyen [2010] NSWCCA 101 R v McNaughton [2006] NSWCCA 242; 66 NSWLR 566 Wong v The Queen [2001] HCA 64; 207 CLR 584 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Grant William Harper (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr S Healy (Applicant) Ms T Smith (Crown)