Sentencing Bench Book Update 53 published

Update 53, February 2023

Update 53 amends the Bench Book to incorporate recent case law and legislative developments. The following chapters have been revised:Fines

  • [6-160] Fines for Commonwealth offences to update references to the value of a penalty unit in s 4AA Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) to $275.

Objective factors (cf s 21A(1))

  • [10-010] Proportionality to add reference to DH v R [2022] NSWCCA 200 regarding assessing an offence’s objective seriousness.
  • [10-024] Use of sentencing statistics to clarify the commentary regarding Peiris v R [2014] NSWCCA 58.

Guilty plea

  • [11-505] Setting aside a guilty plea to add reference to White v R [2022] NSWCCA 241 regarding withdrawing a plea before conviction.

Sexual offences against children

  • [17-500] Maintain unlawful sexual relationship with child: s 66EA to add reference to Towse v R [2022] NSWCCA 252 regarding assessing the seriousness of a s 66EA Crimes Act 1900 offence.

Assault, wounding and related offences

  • [50-080] Wound or inflict grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm or resist arrest: s 33 to add reference to Maybury v R [2022] NSWCCA 233 regarding assessing injuries for a s 33(1)(a) Crimes Act wounding offence.