Robertson v R [2017] NSWCCA 205

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Robertson v R [2017] NSWCCA 205 Hearing dates: 11 August 2017 Date of orders: 11 August 2017 Decision date: 23 August 2017 Before: Simpson JA at [1]; Harrison J at [107]; Davies J at [108] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal against sentence.

2. Appeal allowed. Sentence quashed.

3. In lieu thereof sentence the applicant to imprisonment for a fixed term of 12 months commencing today (11 August 2017).

4. Order pursuant to section 12(1) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 that execution of the whole of the sentence be suspended.

5. Direct that the applicant be released from custody on condition that he enter into a good behaviour bond for a term of 12 months. Catchwords: SENTENCING – appeal against sentence – where error on Form 1 – where offence not known to law – resentencing necessary

SENTENCING – penalties – intensive correction orders – whether available for offences found to constitute "substantial trafficking" of prohibited drugs

SENTENCING – appeal against sentence – general principles – drug offences – where "substantial trafficking" in prohibited drugs found by sentencing judge – whether full-time custody mandated but for "exceptional circumstances"

SENTENCING – appeal against sentence – general principles – consideration of sentencing discretion – consideration of judicially mandated sentencing "policy" – consideration of the "policy" in Clark Legislation Cited: Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW) Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2008 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 5, 6, 7, 12, 21A, 50, 53A, 66, Pt 3 Div 3, Pt 3 Div 4, Pt 5 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW), ss 3, 10, 25, 29 Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW), s 16 Cases Cited: Abdul v R [2013] NSWCCA 247 Barbaro v The Queen; Zirilli v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Bui v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (2012) 244 CLR 638; [2012] HCA 1 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 EF v R [2015] NSWCCA 36 Fayd'Herbe v R [2007] NSWCCA 20 Forti v R [2016] NSWCCA 127 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 52; [2010] HCA 45 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Police v Cadd (1997) 69 SASR 150 R v Bardo (NSWCCA, 14 July 1992, unreported) R v Cacciola (1998) 104 A Crim R 178 at 182 R v Carrion (2000) 49 NSWLR 149; [2000] NSWCCA 191 R v Ejefekaire [2016] NSWCCA 308 R v Gallagher (1991) 23 NSWLR 220 R v Gip; R v Ly (2006) 161 A Crim R 173; [2006] NSWCCA 115 R v Jurisic (1998) 45 NSWLR 209 R v McDonnell [1997] 1 SCR 948 R v Michael John Hayes (1987) 29 A Crim R 452 R v Peter Michael Clark (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 15 March 1990, unreported) R v Pickett [2010] NSWCCA 273 R v Pogson; R v Lapham; R v Martin (2012) 82 NSWLR 60; [2012] NSWCCA 225 R v Saba [2006] NSWCCA 214 R v Wen Fei Gu [2006] NSWCCA 104 R v Wong; R v Leung (1999) 48 NSWLR 340; [1999] NSWCCA 420 Smaragdis v R [2010] NSWCCA 276 The Queen v Pham (2015) 256 CLR 550; [2015] HCA 39 Wong v The Queen; Leung v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Youssef v R [2014] NSWCCA 285 Zahrooni v R; Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Zahrooni [2010] NSWCCA 252 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Liam Robertson (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Webb (Applicant) B Baker (Respondent)