R v Hickson (No 4) [2020] NSWSC 340

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Hickson (No 4) [2020] NSWSC 340 Hearing dates: 28 February 2020 Date of orders: 03 April 2020 Decision date: 03 April 2020 Before: Davies J Decision: For the offence of murder the offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 22 years commencing 2 November 2017 and expiring 1 November 2039, with a non-parole period of 15 years expiring 1 November, 2032. The offender will be first eligible for parole on 1 November 2032. Catchwords: CRIME - sentence - murder - where offender intended to rob victim at his own home – where victim stabbed to death in the course of the robbery - where offence committed over thirty years ago - where offender discovered following findings from a recent review of DNA evidence retained from crime scene - issue of delay – need to sentence according to prevailing sentence practices at the time of the offence – aggravating factors of planning, use of a weapon, committed in home of victim, committed for financial gain - offender with a lengthy criminal record - no remorse shown - poor prospects of rehabilitation – concerns for reoffending – older offender - offender in poor health – special circumstances Legislation Cited: Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 21A, 44 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Standard Minimum Sentencing) Act 2002 No 90 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Crown Terry John Hickson (Offender) Representation: Counsel: C Everson (Crown) P D Young SC (Offender)