WM v R [2020] NSWCCA 96

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: WM v R [2020] NSWCCA 96 Hearing dates: 20 April 2020 Date of orders: 12 May 2020 Decision date: 12 May 2020 Before: Johnson J at [1] Adamson J at [2] Bellew J at [3] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal granted. 2. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – Sentence – Appeal – Sexual intercourse with child under 10 – Where applicant was the father of the victim who was 9 months old – Whether sentencing judge erred in weighing applicant's breach of trust – Necessity for parity principle – Whether applicant had a justifiable sense of grievance in light of sentence imposed on a co-offender – Where sentencing judge properly took into account similarities and differences in the cases of the applicant and the co-offender – No unjustified disparity in the sentences imposed – Sentence not manifestly excessive – Appeal dismissed

WORDS AND PHRASES – "breach of trust" – "under the authority" Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Cases Cited: Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De la Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Director of Public Prosecutions v Dalgliesh (A Pseudonym) (2017) 262 CLR 428; [2017] HCA 41 Goodbun v R [2020] NSWCCA 77 Green v The Queen; Quinn v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462; [2011] HCA 49 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Lowe v the Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606; [1984] HCA 46 MLP v R [2014] NSWCCA 183 MRW v R [2011] NSWCCA 260 Obeid v R (2017) 96 NSWLR 155; [2017] NSWCCA 221 Postiglione v the Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 R v Baker [2000] NSWCCA 85 RLS v R [2012] NSWCCA 236 Ryan v R [2009] NSWCCA 183 Tiknius v R (2011) 221 A Crim R 365; [2011] NSWCCA 215 Category: Principal judgment Parties: WM – Applicant Regina – Respondent Representation: Counsel: C McGorey – Applicant G Newton – Respondent