Update 56 amends the Bench Book to update and revise various chapters, and incorporate recent case law and legislative developments. The following chapters have been revised:
Intensive correction orders (ICOs) (alternative to full-time imprisonment)
- [3-660] Pronouncement of ICO by court, terms and commencement to add a cross-reference to [3-620] Restrictions on power to make ICO.
Suspended sentences
The chapter at [5-700]ff has been removed.
Setting terms of imprisonment
- [7-508] Appellate review of an aggregate sentence has been removed and added to [70-000] Appeals.
- [7-516] Giving effect to finding of special circumstances to add reference to Sampson v R [2023] NSWCCA 239 as an example of a case where the judge did not err by imposing a non-parole period that, when considered with existing sentences, exceeded the statutory ratio despite a finding of special circumstances.
Standard non-parole period offences — Pt 4 Div 1A
- [7-930] Exclusions and inclusions from Pt 4 Div 1A to update a legislation reference.
Objective factors at common law
- [10-000] Maximum penalty to clarify the discussion relating to consideration of the maximum penalty when sentencing.
- [10-000] Factors relevant to assessing objective seriousness to update a cross-reference to [10-440] Youth.
Subjective matters at common law
- [10-430]ff Advanced age to separate the commentary regarding advanced age and youth into new paragraphs at [10-430] Advanced age and [10-440] Youth.
- [10-440] Youth to add a new paragraph with reference to Miller v R [2015] NSWCCA 86, TM v R [2023] NSWCCA 185, MJ v R [2010] NSWCCA 52, R v Sharrouf [2023] NSWCCA 137, IM v R [2019] NSWCCA 107, Howard v R [2019] NSWCCA 109, JT v R [2011] NSWCCA 128 regarding the specific principles to be applied when sentencing a young offender.
- [10-460] Mental health or cognitive impairment and [10-470] Deprived background to add reference to Williams v R [2022] NSWCCA 15 regarding considerations of childhood social deprivation and mental disorders in sentencing.
- [10-490] Hardship to family/dependents to clarify the principles relating to taking into account hardship to family and dependents.
Parity
- [10-801] Introduction to add reference to Kiraz v R [2023] NSWCCA 177, Malouf v R [2019] NSWCCA 307, Baladjam v R [2018] NSWCCA 304, Why v R [2017] NSWCCA 101, Meager v R [2009] NSWCCA 215 and R v Araya [2005] NSWCCA 283 regarding the parity principle and comparison of sentences imposed on persons who were not co-offenders.
- [10-810] Co-offenders convicted of different charges to add reference to Kiraz v R [2023] NSWCCA 177 and Quinn v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462 regarding the application of the parity principle where co-offenders are convicted of different charges.
- [10-850] Crown appeals and parity to add reference to R v FF [2023] NSWCCA 186 regarding the application of the parity principle in Crown appeals.
Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987
- [15-010] Guiding principles to add reference to TM v R [2023] NSWCCA 185 regarding youth as a mitigating factor on sentence and the assessment of moral culpability.
Sentencing Commonwealth offenders
- The chapter at [16-000]ff has been updated and substantially revised, including references added to the following cases:
- Ilic v R [2020] NSWCCA 300 and Chan v R [2023] NSWCCA 206, Hildebrand v R [2021] NSWCCA 9 regarding the relevant considerations in Part IB generally
- Woods v R [2023] NSWCCA 37, Sabbah v R (Cth) [2020] NSWCCA 89, Totaan v R [2022] NSWCCA 75, Marai v R [2023] NSWCCA 224 regarding restrictions on sentences of imprisonment and commencement date
- Sigalla v R [2021] NSWCCA 22 regarding s 16A(2) factors
- Lloyd v R [2022] NSWCCA 18, Pritchard v R [2022] NSWCCA 130 and Giles-Adams v R [2023] NSWCCA 122 regarding the degree to which contrition is shown: s 16A(2)(f)
- Assi v R [2021] NSWCCA 181 regarding failure to comply with legal obligations relating to pre-trial or ongoing disclosure: s 16A(2)(fa)
- Weber v R [2020] NSWCCA 103 and Mason (a pseudonym) v R [2023] VSCA 75 regarding co-operation with law enforcement agencies: ss 16A(2)(h) and 16AC
- Lazarus v R [2023] NSWCCA 214 regarding general deterrence: s 16A(2)(ja)
- Azari v R [2021] NSWCCA 199 regarding need for adequate punishment: s 16A(2)(k)
- Eakin v R [2020] NSWCCA 294, TM v R [2023] NSWCCA 185, DS v R; DM v R (2022) 109 NSWLR 82, R v Eaton [2023] NSWCCA 125, Camilleri v R [2023] NSWCCA 106, Williams v R [2022] NSWCCA 15, CW v R [2022] NSWCCA 50 regarding character, antecedents, age, means and physical or mental condition: s 16A(2)(m)
- Sigalla v R [2021] NSWCCA 22 and Darke v R [2022] NSWCCA 52 regarding prospects of rehabilitation: s 16A(2)(n)
- Holt v R (Cth) [2021] NSWCCA 14, R v Hausman [2022] NSWCCA 24 regarding cumulative, partly cumulative or concurrent sentences of imprisonment: s 19
- Stanley v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2023] HCA 3 regarding additional sentencing alternatives: s 20AB
- Nweke v R (No 2) [2020] NSWCCA 227 regarding revocation of parole or licence
Fraud offences in NSW
- The chapter at [19-930]ff has been updated and substantially revised, including references added to the following cases:
- Subramaniam v R [2013] NSWCCA 159 regarding taking into account a mental condition as a mitigating factor in sentencing
- Totaan v R [2022] NSWCCA 75 and Sabbah v R (Cth) [2020] NSWCCA 89 regarding the importance of general deterrence, and full-time imprisonment
- Singh v R [2020] NSWCCA 353 regarding sentencing of youth for fraud offences
- Abellanoza v R [2021] NSWCCA 4, Cordoba v R [2021] NSWCCA 144, Meis v R [2022] NSWCCA 118 and R v Edelbi [2021] NSWCCA 122 regarding factors to be considered in assessing the objective seriousness of the offence
- Arvinthan v R [2022] NSWCCA 44 regarding s 21A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 and fraud offences
- Clinton v R [2018] NSWCCA 66 and Whyte v R [2019] NSWCCA 218 and Lee v R [2019] NSWCCA 15 regarding consideration of aggravating factors
- DPP (Cth) v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194, Upadhyaya v R [2017] NSWCCA 162, Miller v R [2014] NSWCCA 34, R v Zerafa [2013] NSWCCA 222 and Giourtalis v R [2013] NSWCCA 216 regarding mitigating factors in sentencing for fraud cases
- Bazouni v R [2021] NSWCCA 256, Selkirk v R [2020] NSWSC 1590, McLaren v R [2021] NSWCCA 12 and Kapua v R [2023] NSWCCA 14 regarding fraud offences and ss 192E–192H Crimes Act 1900
- Lee v R [2019] NSWCCA 15, Islam v R [2020] NSWCCA 236 and Lou v R [2021] NSWCCA 120 regarding identity crime offences (ss 192J–192L Crimes Act 1900)
- Aboud v R [2021] NSWCCA 77, R v Nakash [2017] NSWCCA 196, DPP (Cth) v Beattie [2017] NSWCCA 301, Elomar v R [2018] NSWCCA 224, Merhi v R [2019] NSWCCA 322, Noble v R [2018] NSWCCA 253, Tham v R [2020] NSWCCA 338, Sigalla v R [2021] NSWCCA 22, Nakhl v R (Cth) [2020] NSWCCA 201, Hayward v R (Cth) [2021] NSWCCA 63 regarding Commonwealth fraud offences.
Robbery
- The chapter at [20-000]ff has been updated and substantially revised. A Table setting out the various offences and penalties for “robbery” in Part 4, Div 2 Crimes Act 1900 has been added at [20-210] The statutory scheme. References have been added to the following cases:
- Melaisis v R [2018] NSWCCA 184 regarding the De Simoni principle and s 95 Crimes Act
- Harris v R [2021] NSWCCA 322 and Foaiaulima v R [2020] NSWCCA 270 regarding significant changes to the statutory and common law since the R v Henry guideline judgment
- Barnes v R [2022] NSWCCA 40 regarding the seriousness of the offending where the offender was armed with a dangerous weapon
- Antonio v R [2008] NSWCCA 213 regarding s 21A(2)(b) offences where the offence involved the actual or threatened use of violence
- Calhoun (a pseudonym) v R [2018] NSWCCA 150 regarding the involvement of a high level of violence affecting the objective seriousness of the offending and the offender’s criminality
- Hiron v R [2018] NSWCCA 10 regarding the parity principle where co-offenders are broadly involved in a joint criminal enterprise
- Cummins v R [2019] NSWCCA 163 regarding Form 1 offences
- R v El Sayah [2018] NSWCCA 64 regarding vulnerable victims
- Tammer-Spence v R [2021] NSWCCA 90 regarding offending in a custodial setting.
- IS v R [2017] NSWCCA 116 and Edwards v R [2021] NSWCCA 57 regarding an offender’s deprived background and the application of the principles in Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571
- Gardiner v R [2018] NSWCCA 27 regarding rehabilitation
- Yildiz v R [2020] NSWCCA 69 regarding an offender’s youth and relative maturity
- Dungay v R [2020] NSWCCA 209 regarding Children’s Court criminal histories of adult offenders.
Commonwealth drug offences
- [65-130] Objective factors relevant to all Commonwealth drug offences to add reference to Giles-Adams v R [2023] NSWCCA 122 regarding the role of the offender and level of participation.
Appeals
- [70-035] Appellate review of an aggregate sentence to add commentary removed from [7-508] above and to add reference to Lee v R [2020] NSWCCA 244 and Kresovic v R [2018] NSWCCA 37 regarding the principles to have regard to in determining whether an aggregate sentence is manifestly excessive.
- [70-090] Purpose and limitations of Crown appeals to add reference to Kaminic v R [2014] NSWCCA 116 regarding the assessment of objective seriousness in Crown appeals, and DPP (NSW) v TH [2023] NSWCCA 81 regarding appeals of aggregate sentences on the grounds of manifest excess.