R v Candace Martin [2017] NSWSC 1498

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Candace Martin [2017] NSWSC 1498 Hearing dates: 3, 22 August 2017, 12 September 2017, 24, 25 and 26 October 2017 Date of orders: 03 November 2017 Decision date: 03 November 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Hamill J Decision: Sentenced to total effective sentence of 9 years with total effective non-parole period of 4 years (see [103]). Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – attempted murder – provision of false alibi – "just in case" he murdered his father – accessory after fact to murder – offender the wife of principal offender – insurance policies taken out on life of deceased – where first attempt fails – second attempt successful – murder by samurai sword – where principal offences grave –whether offender acting under non-exculpatory duress – mixed motives – partially motivated by possibility of financial gain – misguided loyalty – reluctance to leave children without father – abusive relationship – impact on moral culpability and length of sentence

CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – mitigating features – discounts for plea of guilty – where offender offers to give evidence against co-offender – where prosecution declines offer – tissue of lies – impact on appropriate reduction in sentence – assessment of reliability and truthfulness of offender's evidence – distinguish truth from fiction

CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – extreme hardship on third parties – offender has 4 children under 8 years of age – one child 9 months old – children with significant medical and behavioural issues – impact on sentence – Mothers and Children Program – rights of children – international covenant – wholly exceptional case – special circumstances – substantial reduction in length of non-parole period – attempt to impose lowest possible non-parole period – minimising separation of mother and children – minimising period children in custody with mother Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) Cases Cited: Director of Public Prosecutions v Dalgliesh (a pseudonym) [2017] HCA 41 Edwards (1996) 90 A Crim R 510 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 HJ v R [2014] NSWCCA 21 Hoskins v R [2016] NSWCCA 157 Kaminic v R [2014] NSWCCA 116 Luque v R [2017] NSWCCA 226 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Olbrich v The Queen (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v AC (No 7) [2016] NSWSC 404 R v Anderson [2011] NSWSC 1689 R v Cardoso [2003] NSWCCA 15; (2003) 137 A Crim R 535 R v Dileski [2002] NSWCCA 345; (2002) 132 A Crim R 408 R v Hines (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 1273 R v Johnson [2014] NSWSC 1254 R v Latouf (CCA (NSW), Mahoney ACJ, 12 December 1996, unrep) R v Lenati [2008] NSWCCA 67 R v MacLeod [2013] NSWCCA 108 R v Martin & Martin [2017] NSWSC 1106 R v Oinonen [1999] NSWCCA 310 R v Quach [2002] NSWSC 1205 R v Thompson & Houlten 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 Shine v R [2016] NSWCCA 149 The Queen v Kilic [2016] HCA 48; (2016) 339 ALR 229 Tiknius v R [2011] NSWCCA 215 TT v R [2014] NSWCCA 206 Williams v R [2013] NSWCCA 168 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina (Crown) Candace Jodie Martin Representation: Counsel: Mr B Campbell (Crown) Mr S Healy (C J Martin)