Masters v R [2019] NSWCCA 233

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Masters v R [2019] NSWCCA 233 Hearing dates: 6 September 2019 Date of orders: 30 September 2019 Decision date: 30 September 2019 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [2]; Hamill J at [3] Decision: (1) Application for leave to appeal granted. (2) Appeal allowed. (3) Quash the sentence imposed in the District Court, and in lieu thereof: (a) The applicant is sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 4 years commencing on 3 October 2017 and expiring on 2 October 2021 with a non-parole period of 2 years expiring on 2 October 2019. (b) The applicant will be eligible for release on parole at the expiration of the non-parole period. (4) Confirm the compensation order made in the District Court. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal against sentence - kidnapping and attempted arson – bizarre offending - offender with mental illness - relevance to sentencing - reduction in moral culpability - error in failing to take into account - offences committed during change of drug regime - failure to follow doctor's orders - where no history of violent or bizarre behaviour - correct approach to sentencing - prospects of rehabilitation - failure to make finding - error in sentencing process - applicant re-sentenced Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 86(1), 195(1)(b) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 21A, 33, 44 and 53A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 6(3) Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen (1990) 169 CLR 525; [1990] HCA 18 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Gal v R [2015] NSWCCA 242 Griffiths v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 372; [1989] HCA 39 Jung v R [2017] NSWCCA 24 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601; [2014] HCA 37 Lam v R [2015] NSWCCA 143 R v Billy Krey [2019] NSWSC 762 R v Champion (1992) 64 A Crim R 244 R v DW [2012] NSWCCA 66 R v Israil [2002] NSWCCA 255 R v Kelsall [2015] NSWSC 480 R v Letteri (Unreported, New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal, 18 March 1992) Ryan v Regina [2017] NSWCCA 209 WW v R [2012] NSWCCA 165 Zuffo v R [2017] NSWCCA 187 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Russell Lee Masters (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Neild (Applicant) B Hatfield (Respondent)