Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Beattie [2017] NSWCCA 301

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Beattie [2017] NSWCCA 301 Hearing dates: 20 September 2017;Written submissions 4 October 2017 Date of orders: 08 December 2017 Decision date: 08 December 2017 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Walton J at [49]; Price J at [50] Decision: (1) Crown appeal allowed. (2) The sentences imposed for sequences 3 to 24 inclusive by Craigie SC DCJ in the District Court of New South Wales on 13 June 2017 are quashed. (3) In lieu thereof, for sequences 3 to 24 inclusive, the respondent is sentenced to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 13 years which is to commence on 5 February 2016.

Orders amended on 15 December 2017:

(4) A non-parole period of 9 years is fixed with respect to the aggregate sentence of 13 years commencing on 5 February 2016 and terminating on 4 February 2025. (5) The overall effective sentence for sequence 1 and sequences 3 to 24 inclusive is 14 years imprisonment commencing on 5 February 2015 and expiring on 4 February 2029. (6) The earliest date that the respondent will be eligible to be released on parole is 4 February 2025. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – Crown appeal against inadequacy of sentences – 21 offences against s 272.8(2) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth) – causing children in Philippines to engage in sexual intercourse by instructions given by respondent located in Sydney via real-time video link– factors relevant to assessing objective seriousness of offence – difficulty in detecting offences – heightened need for general deterrence – vulnerability of children in impoverished countries – whether aggregate sentences may be imposed for indictable offences against the Code – whether judge erred in applying totality principle – whether sentence failed to adequately acknowledge separate harm done to children – whether individual sentences were manifestly inadequate – whether residual discretion should not be exercised – Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Bill – re-sentence – whether paraphilic disorder reduces moral culpability – specific deterrence – sentence increased Legislation Cited: Canadian Criminal Code, ss 465, 271 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61J, 91H Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 4K,16A, 50BA, 50BB, 50BC, 50BD Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences Against Children) Act 2010 (Cth) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 22, 53A, 53A(2)(b) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5D Criminal Code (Cth), ss 272.8, 272.9, 272.14, Div 272 Criminal Justice Act 1988 (UK), s 36 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 68 Sentencing Act 1995 (NT), s 52 Sexual Offences Act 2003 (UK), s 14 Cases Cited: Bogdanovich v The Queen [2011] VSCA 388 Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Bui v Director of Public Prosecutions (2012) 244 CLR 638; [2012] HCA 1 Cahyadi v R [2007] NSWCCA 1; (2007) 168 A Crim R 41 Clinch v R (1994) 72 A Crim R 301 CMB v Attorney General for New South Wales (2015) 256 CLR 346; [2015] HCA 9 Director of Public Prosecutions v Brett Le Gassick [2014] VCC 1288 Einfeld v Regina [2010] NSWCCA 87; 200 A Crim R 1 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Lowndes v The Queen (1999) 195 CLR 665; [1999] HCA 29 Mill v The Queen (1981) 147 CLR 383 at 389; [1981] HCA 31 Minehan v R [2010] NSWCCA 140 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 Putland v The Queen (2004) 218 CLR 174; [2004] HCA 8 R v Booth [2009] NSWCCA 89 R v Harris [2007] NSWCCA 130; (2007) 171 A Crim R 267 R v MAK; R v MSK [2006] NSWCCA 381; 167 A Crim R 159 R v MMK [2006] NSWCCA 272; (2006) 164 A Crim R 481 R v Nakash [2017] NSWCCA 196 R v Pitts [2016] NSCA 78 R v Porte [2015] NSWCCA 174 R v Walkuski [2010] SASC 146 R v XX [2009] NSWCCA 115; (2009) 195 A Crim R 38 Regina v Charnley [2011] 1 Cr App R (S) 58; [2010] EWCA Crim 1996 Regina v Eller [2014] EWCA Crim 2995 Rivo v The Queen [2012] VSCA 117 Ryan v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 267; [2001] HCA 21 The Queen v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 Vaitos (1981) 4 A Crim R 238 Vaovasa v R [2007] NSWCCA 253; (2007) 174 A Crim R 116 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Texts Cited: A Ashworth, Sentencing and Criminal Justice (6th ed, Cambridge University Press, 2015)