R v Ronald Edward Medich (No. 43) [2018] NSWSC 886

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Ronald Edward Medich (No. 43) [2018] NSWSC 886 Hearing dates: 31 May 2018 Date of orders: 21 June 2018 Decision date: 21 June 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Bellew J Decision: (1) In respect of the intimidation of Kimberley McGurk, the offender is sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 4 years and 6 months commencing on 27 February 2018 and expiring on 26 August 2022. I decline to set a non-parole period as to do so would serve no purpose.

(2) In respect of the murder of Michael Loch McGurk, the offender is sentenced to a non-parole period of 27 years imprisonment, commencing on 27 February 2021 and expiring on 26 February 2048, with an additional term of 9 years imprisonment, commencing on 27 February 2048 and expiring on 26 February 2057.

(3) The total sentence is one of 39 years imprisonment.

(4) The offender will be eligible for parole on 26 February 2048 and his sentence will expire on 26 February 2057. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – Sentence – Murder – Intimidation – Joint criminal enterprise – Where offender directed the contract killing of a former business associate and the intimidation of his wife – History of disputes between offender and victims – Where the offender funded both the killing and the intimidation – Offences falling at the upper end of range of objective seriousness – Whether life sentence should be imposed for the offence of murder – Where a number of other persons had already been sentenced for their part in the offending – Necessity to have regard to the parity principle – Life sentence not imposed Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2001 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Family Member Victim Impact Statement) Act 2014 (NSW) Cases Cited: Cahyadi v R [2007] NSWCCA 1 Carruthers v R [20`07] NSWCCA 276 GAS v R (2004) 217 CLR 198; [2004] HCA 22 Green v R; Quinn v R (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Ibbs v R (1987) 163 CLR 447; [1987] HCA 46 Inge v R (1999) 199 CLR 295; [1999] HCA 55 Jonson v R [2016] NSWCCA 286 Knight v R [2006] NSWCCA 292; 164 A Crim R 126 Lowe v R (1984) 154 CLR 606; [1984] HCA 46 Postiglione v R (1997) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 R v Abdallah [2015] NSWSC 531 R v Bae [1999] NSWCCA 290 R v Bell (1985) 2 NSWLR 466 R v Berg [2004] NSWCCA 300; 41 MVR 399 R v Bollen (1998) 99 A Crim R 510 R v Do (No. 4) [2015] NSWSC 512 R v Estephan [2014] NSWSC 450 R v Gattellari; R v Kaminic [2013] NSWSC 1097 R v Halloun [2014] NSWSC 1705 R v Hines (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 1273 R v Isaacs (1997) 41 NSWLR 374 R v Kalajzich (1997) 94 A Crim R 41 R v Lulham [2016] NSWCCA 287 R v Merritt (2004) 59 NSWLR 557; [2004] NSWCCA 19 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54. R v Pluis [2015] NSWSC 320 R v Potier [2004] NSWCCA 136 R v Previtera (1997) 94 A Crim R 76 R v Safetli [2013] NSWSC 1096 R v Valera [2002] NSWCCA 50 R v Xie [2017] NSWSC 63 Siganto v R (1998) 194 CLR 656; [1998] HCA 74 Sumpton v R [2016] NSWCCA 162 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina (Crown) Ronald Edward Medich (Offender) Representation: Counsel: Ms S Harris and Ms G Wright (Crown) Mr W Terracini SC and Ms M Curry (Offender)