R v Betka [2020] NSWSC 77

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Betka [2020] NSWSC 77 Hearing dates: 17 and 18 December 2019 Date of orders: 20 February 2020 Decision date: 20 February 2020 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison J Decision: For the offence of engaging in hostile activity in a foreign country contrary to s 119.1(2) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), and taking account of the offence contrary to s 119.2(1) of the Code listed on a s 16BA schedule, sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years and 8 months commencing on 19 June 2018 and expiring on 18 February 2022 with a non-parole period of 2 years and 9 months expiring on 18 March 2021 Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentence – engaging in hostile activity in foreign country – where 23 year old offender travelled to Syria to oppose Assad regime – where offender remained in Syria for approximately four months – where decision influenced or inspired by Islamic State recruiting propaganda – whether offender actually engaged in combat – whether risk of committing acts of domestic violence upon return to Australia – where details of offender's activities in Syria significantly derived from his own evidence – whether offender now holds radical religious views – where good prospects of rehabilitation Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Crimes (Foreign Incursions and Recruitment) Act 1978 (Cth) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Cases Cited: DPP (Cth) v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194; (2010) 79 NSWLR 1 DPP v El Sabsabi [2017] VSCA 160 Jane Maria Sakovits v R Ronald Rudolf Sakovits v R [2014] NSWCCA 109 Markovic v R; Pantelic v R [2010] VSCA 105; (2010) 200 A Crim R 510 McAree v Barr [2006] TASSC 37 Nguyen v R [2001] WASCA 72; (2001) 118 A Crim R 519 R v Berlinsky [2005] SASC 316 R v Biber [2018] NSWCCA 271 R v Elshani [2015] NSWCCA 254; (2015) 255 A Crim R 488 R v Filippetti (1978) 13 A Crim R 335 R v Hinton [2002] NSWCCA 405; (2002) 134 A Crim R 286 R v Huston; Ex parte DPP (Cth) [2011] QCA 350; (2011) 219 A Crim R 209 R v Lelikan [2019] NSWCCA 316 R v Mohammed [2016] VSC 581 R v Succarieh [2017] QCA 85 R v Togias [2001] NSWCCA 522; (2001) 127 A Crim R 23 R v Zerafa (2013) [2013] NSWCCA 222; (2013) 235 A Crim R 265 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina (Crown) Belal Betka (Offender) Representation: Counsel: P McDonald SC with K Curry (Crown) T D Anderson with C V Newman (Offender)