R v Despotovski [2020] NSWDC 110

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Despotovski [2020] NSWDC 110 Hearing dates: 15 April 2020 Decision date: 15 April 2020 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Haesler SC DCJ Decision: Sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 5 years 7 months. Non parole period of 3 years 6 months Catchwords: SENTENCING - supply large commercial quantity of cannabis leaf - rolled up quantity - multiple transactions - danger of double counting inherent in overzealous application of s21A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999

SENTENCING - relevant factors on sentence- early guilty plea – Form 1 - prior convictions for drug supply - role of offender - parity - mental illness - gambling addiction - COVID 19 pandemic considered - special circumstances Legislation Cited: Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Drug (Misuse and Trafficking) Act 1985 Cases Cited: Attorney General's Application No. 1 (2002) 56 NSWLR 146 Brown v R [2020] VSC 60 Cicciarello v R [2009] NSWCAA 272 DPP v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194, (2010) 79 NSWLR 1 Hamzy v R (1994) 74 A Crim R 341 Henry v The Queen (1999) 46 NSWLR 346 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520 Hoskins v R [2016] NSWCCA 157 Jadron v R [2015] NSWCCA 217 R v Ceissman [2004] NSWCCA 466 R v Edwards (1996) 90 A Crim R 510 R v Herring (1956) 73 WN (NSW) 203 R v Tang [2020] NSWDC 96 R v Verdins [2007] VSCA 102; 16 VR 269 Siwek v R [2017] NSWCCA 178 Texts Cited: CSNSW memo response to COVID -19, 25 March 2020 Parole Supervision and Re-offending: Wai-Yin Wan, Suzanne Poynton, Gerard van Doorn and Don Weatherburn (2016) Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology v149. No.4. p 497, 2011 BOCSAR Category: Sentence Parties: Goran Despotovski (the offender) Director of Public Prosecutions Representation: Counsel: Mr A Hallas (for the offender) Ms G Steedman, Crown Prosecutor