R v Walsh [2018] NSWSC 1299

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Walsh [2018] NSWSC 1299 Hearing dates: 10 August 2018 Decision date: 23 August 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: McCallum J Decision: Offender sentenced to imprisonment for life Catchwords: CRIME – sentencing – murder – where prisoner killed cellmate during lock-down – fourth murder committed by same offender – offender already serving two life sentences for previous murders – assessment of level of culpability – whether so extreme that the community interest in retribution, punishment, community protection and deterrence can only be met through the imposition of the maximum penalty – relevance of previous offences – absence of any significant mitigating factors Legislation Cited: Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW), s 4 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 21, 21A(2)(d), Pt 4 Div 1A Table item 1, 54D(1)(a) 61 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 19A Cases Cited: Pearce v R (1998) 194 CLR 610 [1998] HCA 57 R v Harris (2000) 121 A Crim R 342; [2000] NSWCCA 469 R v Kaewklom (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 59 R v Merritt (2004) 59 NSWLR 557; [2004] NSWCCA 19 R v Miles [2002] NSWCCA 276 R v Penisini [2004] NSWCCA 339 R v Rose [1999] NSWCCA 327 R v Walsh [2009] NSWSC 764 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Yeung v R [2018] NSWCCA 52 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina John Walsh (Offender) Representation: Counsel: S Harris (Crown) J Manuell SC (Offender)