Stemler v R [2017] NSWCCA 320

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Stemler v R [2017] NSWCCA 320 Hearing dates: 17 November 2017 Date of orders: 15 December 2017 Decision date: 15 December 2017 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1] R A Hulme J at [10] Wilson J at [13] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal granted; (2) Appeal allowed. (3) Quash the sentence imposed upon Ferenc Stemler by the District Court for the offence of attempt to possess a marketable quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug (cocaine) contrary to s 307.6 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and, in lieu, sentence him to imprisonment for 7 years and 9 months, to date from 2 December 2015, and expiring on 1 September 2023. A non-parole period of 5 years is specified, expiring on 1 December 2020. Catchwords: CRIMINAL APPEAL – sentence appeal – question of leniency to be allowed – willingness to facilitate the course of justice – determination of non-parole period – whether non-parole period adequately reflects plea of guilty – ratio of sentence for Federal offences Legislation Cited: Criminal Code (Cth) Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Cases Cited: Weininger v The Queen (2003) 212 CLR 629 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520 R v Kain [2004] NSWCCA 143 R v A [2004] NSWCCA 292 R v Van Hong Pham [2005] NSWCCA 94 Cahyadi v R [2007] NSWCCA 1 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; 228 CLR 357 Kentwell v The Queen [2014] HCA 37; 252 CLR 601 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ferenc Stemler (applicant) The Queen (respondent Crown) Representation: Counsel: P. Lange (applicant) L. Fernandez (respondent Crown)