Tarrant v R [2018] NSWCCA 21

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Tarrant v R [2018] NSWCCA 21 Hearing dates: 1 and 2 February 2018 Decision date: 23 February 2018 Before: Basten JA, R A Hulme J, Hidden AJ Decision: (1) Grant the applicant leave to appeal from the sentence imposed in the Common Law Division on 19 August 2016. (2) Allow the appeal and set aside the sentence and orders made by Fagan J in the Common Law Division. (3) Remit the matter to the Common Law Division for the sentencing of the applicant with respect to the offence of manslaughter of Alois Rez. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal against sentence – apprehended bias – whether comments and questions by sentencing judge during applicant's trial, a co-offender's trial, and sentencing hearings gave rise to reasonable apprehension of bias – application for recusal rejected – whether sentencing judgment should be set aside

CRIME – manslaughter – appeal against sentence – diminished responsibility – assessment of culpability – whether findings consistent with jury finding of substantial impairment by abnormality of mind – Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 23A Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 23A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 6 Cases Cited: British American Tobacco Australia Services Ltd v Laurie (2011) 242 CLR 283; [2011] HCA 2 Concrete Pty Ltd v Parramatta Design & Developments Pty Ltd (2006) 229 CLR 577; [2006] HCA 55 CUR24 v Director of Public Prosecutions (2012) 83 NSWLR 385; [2012] NSWCA 65 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Goodwin v Commissioner of Police [2012] NSWCA 379 Johnson v Johnson (2000) 201 CLR 488; [2000] HCA 48 Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Nicholls (2011) 244 CLR 427; [2011] HCA 48 R v Antaky [2007] NSWSC 1047 R v Low (1991) 57 A Crim R 8 R v Tarrant [2016] NSWSC 892 Re JRL; Ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342; [1986] HCA 39 Roff v R [2017] NSWCCA 208 Rouvinetis v Knoll [2013] NSWCA 24 Royal Guardian Mortgage Management Pty Ltd v Nguyen [2016] NSWCA 88 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sarah Renea Tarrant (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms G Bashir SC/Mr C McGorey (Applicant) Ms C Webster SC (Respondent)