Katsis v R [2018] NSWCCA 9

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Katsis v R [2018] NSWCCA 9 Hearing dates: 1 November 2017 Decision date: 14 February 2018 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1]; Schmidt J at [120]; Campbell J at [121] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal against sentence is granted. (2) The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentence appeal – offences of murder and sexual intercourse without consent – offending occurred in 1988 but not sentenced until December 2015 – victim an elderly woman living in circumstances of social isolation – whether victim should have been regarded as "vulnerable" in accordance with s 21A(2)(l) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) – whether judge properly applied the principles applying to sentencing for historical offences – whether judge should have found special circumstances having regard to the length of non-parole periods imposed during the 1980s – whether judge should have taken into account applicant's upbringing as bearing upon his moral culpability – whether judge properly took into account by way of mitigation the applicant's previous good character – grounds of appeal not made out – leave to appeal granted but appeal dismissed. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – ss 18, 19, 61D(1), 442 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) s 21A, s 44 Probation and Parole Act 1983 (NSW) – s 20A Cases Cited: AJB v R [2007] NSWCCA 51; 169 A Crim R 32 Bradley v The Queen [2017] VSCA 69 Bugmy v R [2013] HCA 37; 249 CLR 571 CT v R [2017] NSWCCA 15 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; 242 CLR 520 Ingrey v R [2016] NSWCCA 31 Longworth v R [2017] NSWCCA 119 MPB v R [2013] NSWCCA 213; 234 A Crim R 576 Munda v Western Australia [2013] HCA 38; 249 CLR 600 PH v R [2009] NSWCCA 161 R v Bossie (Supreme Court (NSW), Studdert J, 16 April 1992, unrep) R v Dargin [2000] NSWSC 710 R v Fleming [2007] NSWSC 673 R v GDP (1991) 53 A Crim R 112 R v Katsis [2015] NSWSC 1890 R v Kennedy [2000] NSWCCA 527 R v Magnuson [2013] NSWCCA 50 R v Matthews [2014] NSWSC 608 R v MJR [2002] NSWCCA 129; 54 NSWLR 368 R v Sharpe (Supreme Court (NSW) Wood J, 9 September 1992, unrep) R v Tadrosse [2005] NSWCCA 145; 65 NSWLR 740 RL v R [2015] NSWCCA 106 SHR v R [2014] NSWCCA 94 Zreika v R [2012] NSWCCA 44 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Alexis Katsis – Applicant Regina – Respondent Crown Representation: Counsel: G Bashir SC/J Brock – Applicant N Adams/S Johnson – Respondent Crown