Merrick v R [2017] NSWCCA 264

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Merrick v R [2017] NSWCCA 264 Hearing dates: 13 September 2017 Date of orders: 17 November 2017 Decision date: 17 November 2017 Before: Gleeson JA Beech-Jones J Fagan J Decision: 1. Leave is granted to appeal against conviction upon ground 3, involving a question of fact, and against sentence. 2. The appeals against both conviction and sentence are dismissed. Catchwords: CRIME – manslaughter – conviction appeal – whether verdict unreasonable and unsupported on evidence – differences in witnesses' accounts of fatal assault.

CRIME – manslaughter – sentence appeal – utilitarian discount – whether discount available where plea offer rejected by prosecutor – where offer made subject to facts to be agreed and not particularised – where applicant's case at trial and on appeal inconsistent with plea - whether sentencing judge made unsustainable findings on sentence – whether remorse demonstrated – finding of remorse precluded by continued denial of gravamen of crime. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Cases Cited: Libke v The Queen (2007) 230 CLR 559; [2007] HCA 30 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 R v Cardoso [2003] NSWCCA 15; 137 A Crim R 535 R v Johnson [2003] NSWCCA 129 R v Merrick (No 5) [2016] NSWSC 661 R v Oinonen [1999] NSWCCA 310 R v Pennisi [2001] NSWCCA 326 R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300; [2002] NSWCCA 142 R v Stambolis [2006] NSWCCA 56; 160 A Crim R 510 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 SKA v The Queen (2011) 243 CLR 400; [2011] HCA 13 Wilson v The Queen (1992) 174 CLR 313; [1992] HCA 31 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ross Albert Merrick (appellant) Regina (respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr Tom Molomby SC (appellant) Mr Richard Lancaster SC (respondent)