Regina v Baker* [2017] NSWCCA 233

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Regina v Baker* [2017] NSWCCA 233 Hearing dates: 28 July 2017 Decision date: 27 September 2017 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] McCallum J at [4] Bellew J at [66] Decision: Crown appeal allowed; sentence imposed in the District Court quashed and in substitution therefor the respondent sentenced to a term of imprisonment with a non-parole period of 5 years and 10 months commencing on 24 April 2015 and expiring on 23 February 2021 and a balance of term of 3 years and 10 months expiring on 23 December 2024. The first date on which the applicant will be eligible for release to parole is 23 February 2021. Catchwords: CRIME – Crown appeals – sentence – manifest inadequacy – two counts of soliciting to murder – child victims – mid-range seriousness – whether sentence reflecting a starting point of nine years' imprisonment for each offence too lenient Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 26 Cases Cited: Benitez v R [2006] NSWCCA 21 Carroll v The Queen [2009] HCA 13 CMB v Attorney General for New South Wales [2015] HCA 9 Efthimiadis [2013] NSWCCA 276 Lewis (1998) 100 A Crim R 361 Lindstrom v R [2008] NSWSC 198 Louizos v R [2014] NSWCCA 242 Louizos v R; R v Louizos [2009] NSWCCA 71 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 R v Harris [2015] NSWCCA 81 R v Potier [2004] NSWCCA 136 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (applicant) Sally Baker (respondent)(pseudonym) Representation: Counsel: S Dowling SC, K Ratcliff, B New (applicant) F Coyne (respondent) R Grady (Commissioner NSW Police)