R v Raquel Hutchison [2019] NSWSC 25

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Raquel Hutchison [2019] NSWSC 25 Hearing dates: 29 November 2018 Decision date: 31 January 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Hamill J Decision: Sentenced to imprisonment for 9 years with a non-parole period of 5 years and 6 months. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – manslaughter – excessive self-defence – substantial impairment – brutal and premeditated attack by offender on her ex-husband – intention to inflict grievous bodily harm formed after attack commenced – subjective belief actions necessary to protect children – objectively unreasonable and disproportionate response – chronic mental health issues arising from early child sexual assault – where matters taken into account in reducing homicide from murder to manslaughter – aggravating features – offence committed in presence of young child – offence in the victim's home – impact on family members – devastating impact – where mother kills children's father – children sad lonely and confused – early offer to plead guilty – good prospects of rehabilitation – special circumstances – objectives of sentencing – relevance where offence "exquisitely idiosyncratic" Legislation Cited: Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW) s 25C Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 21A and 28(4) Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 DPP (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Imnetu v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 203 R v Bloodsworth; R v Errington (No 5) [2018] NSWSC 79 R v Cardoso [2003] NSWCCA 15; (2003) 137 A Crim R 535 R v Do (No 4) [2015] NSWSC 512 R v Halloun [2014] NSWSC 1705 R v Hines (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 1273 R v Hutchison & Wilkinson [2018] NSWSC 1759 R v Sumpton (No. 4) [2015] NSWSC 684 R v Tarrant [2018] NSWSC 774 R v TP [2018] NSWSC 369 Regina v Israil [2002] NSWCCA 255 Ryan v Regina [2017] NSWCCA 209 Sumpton v R [2016] NSWCCA 162 Villalon v R [2015] NSWCCA 229 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina Raquel Hutchison Representation: Counsel: M Cunneen SC (Regina) B Rigg SC (Ms Hutchison)