Cummins v R [2019] NSWCCA 163

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Cummins v R [2019] NSWCCA 163 Hearing dates: 19 June 2019 Date of orders: 22 July 2019 Decision date: 22 July 2019 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Price J [2]; N Adams J [122] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal granted. (2) Appeal against sentence allowed. (3) The sentence imposed in the District Court of New South Wales on 29 June 2018 is quashed. (4) In lieu thereof, Paul James Cummins is sentenced to 11 years 6 months imprisonment consisting of a non-parole period of 6 years 6 months, commencing on 30 April 2017 and concluding on 29 October 2023, with a balance of term of 5 years which will expire on 29 October 2028. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – Appeal against sentence – two armed robberies – report by sentencing judge to the Court of Criminal Appeal – circumstances where report may be made – report not considered by the Court – whether judge erred in taking into account Form 1 offences when assessing the objective seriousness of principal offences – whether error in taking into account multiple victims and series of criminal acts – whether error in taking into account threat of violence – whether error in application of principle of totality – Re-sentence – consideration of guideline judgment in R v Henry – consideration of whether applicant's mental health reduced moral culpability for offences – whether applicant remorseful – applicant serving balance of parole – indicative sentences – aggregate sentence imposed – commencement date of aggregate sentence Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 97, 154A, 154C Crimes (Sentencing) Procedure Act 1999 (NSW) s 21A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 11 Cases Cited: Attorney-General's Application under s 37 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 No 1 of 2002 (2002) 56 NSWLR 146; [2002] NSWCCA 518 Cahyadi v R [2007] NSWCCA 1; (2007) 168 A Crim R 41 Dougan v R [2006] NSWCCA 34; (2006) 160 A Crim R 135 Hamze v R [2006] NSWCCA 36 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Hutchen v R [2015] NSWCCA 101 Ith v R [2013] NSWCCA 280 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70 Nguyen v The Queen (2016) 256 CLR 656; [2016] HCA 17 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 R v Franks [2005] NSWCCA 196 R v Henry (1999) 46 NSWLR 346; [1999] NSWCCA 111 R v M.A.K, M.S.K [2006] NSWCCA 381; (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566; [2006] NSWCCA 242 R v MMK [2006] NSWCCA 272; (2006) 164 A Crim R 481 R v Sloane [2001] NSWCCA 421; (2001) 126 A Crim R 188 R v Tadrosse (2005) 65 NSWLR 740; [2005] NSWCCA 145 R v XX [2009] NSWCCA 115; (2009) 195 A Crim R 38 RL v R [2018] NSWCCA 274 Vaovasa v R [2007] NSWCCA 253; (2007) 174 A Crim R 116 Zhang v R [2018] NSWCCA 82 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paul James Cummins (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr Wilson (Applicant) Ms Jeffreys (Respondent)