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[2019] WASCA 45
Court of Appeal (WA)
2019-03-12
Mazza JA
Original judgment source is linked above.
JURISDICTION : SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
CITATION : LYN -v- THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA [2019] WASCA 45
Jurisdiction : DISTRICT COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Criminal Law - Sentencing - Appellant convicted of sexual offending against three daughters - Where offending against all victims occurred prior to 2005 - Where, in 2005, the appellant was sentenced to a total effective sentence of 4 years' immediate imprisonment for offending against eldest daughter - Where, in 2017, the appellant was sentenced to total effective sentence of 10 years 3 months' imprisonment for offending against his other two daughters - Whether total effective sentence imposed in 2017, considered in the context of the total effective sentence imposed in 2005, infringes the first limb of the totality principle
CAND v The State of Western Australia [2018] WASCA 101
ERA v The State of Western Australia [2013] WASCA 163
FWB v The State of Western Australia [2016] WASCA 118
GHK v The State of Western Australia [2014] WASCA 19; (2014) 238 A Crim R 178
GMS v The State of Western Australia [2009] WASCA 107
JJR v The State of Western Australia [2018] WASCA 51
KMB v The State of Western Australia [2010] WASCA 212
Labrook v The State of Western Australia [2016] WASCA 127
LJH v The State of Western Australia [2016] WASCA 155; (2016) 261 A Crim R 355
LWD v The State of Western Australia [2012] WASCA 76
NN v The State of Western Australia [2018] WASCA 92
Roffey v The State of Western Australia [2007] WASCA 246
The State of Western Australia v FJG [2012] WASCA 206
VIM v The State of Western Australia [2005] WASCA 233; (2005) 31 WAR 1
YDN v The State of Western Australia [2018] WASCA 62
Sexual penetration of GL, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by penetrating her vagina with his finger (Code s 329(2))
Sexual penetration of AJ, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by penetrating her vagina with his finger (Code s 329(2))
Sexual penetration of AJ, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by penetrating her vagina with his finger (Code s 329(2))
Sexual penetration of GL, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by introducing his penis into her mouth (Code s 329(2))
Sexual penetration of GL, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by penetrating her vagina with his finger (Code s 329(2))
Sexual penetration of GL, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by penetrating her vagina with his penis (Code s 329(2))
Indecent dealing with GL, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by rubbing her vaginal area with his hand (Code s 329(4))
Sexual penetration of GL, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by penetrating her vagina with his penis (Code s 329(2))
Indecent dealing with GL, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by rubbing his penis against her vagina (Code s 329(4))
Indecent dealing with AP, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by rubbing her chest (Code s 329(4))
Indecent dealing with AP, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by rubbing her vaginal area (Code s 329(4))
Indecent dealing with AP, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by touching her breasts (Code s 329(4))
Sexual penetration of AP, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by engaging in cunnilingus (Code s 329(2))
Indecent dealing with AP, a child under the age of 16 years who he knew to be a lineal relative, by compelling her to masturbate him (Code s 329(4))
The legal principles relevant to the disposition of this appeal are not in dispute. An appellate court is not entitled to intervene merely because it would have exercised the sentencing discretion in a manner different than the sentencing judge. It can only intervene if the sentencing judge has made an express or implied material error of fact or law.
The appellant relies on the totality principle which comprises two limbs. The first limb is that the total effective sentence must bear a proper relationship to the overall criminality involved in all the offences, viewed in their entirety and having regard to the circumstances of the case, including those referable to the offender personally.
The second limb is that the court should not impose a 'crushing' sentence. The word crushing in this context connotes the destruction of any reasonable expectation of a useful life after release. An aggregate sentence may be inappropriately long under the first limb even if it cannot be described as crushing.
The practical effect of the totality principle is ordinarily to arrive at an aggregate sentence that is less than that which would be arrived at by simply adding up all the terms appropriate for the individual offences. A rationale for the totality principle is that there is assumed rehabilitation and reduced demand for retribution after the initial sentences have been served. Where the principle of totality comes into effect, it is of little importance how the ultimate aggregate is made up.
(citations omitted)
(1) The offending commenced when his daughters were aged 4 or 5 years and continued for a substantial time, during which they were particularly vulnerable.
(2) The offending represented a significant and continuing breach of the trust of a parent to a child, in circumstances where each of GL and AJ were plainly unable to protect themselves.
(3) The appellant used GL and AJ for his own sexual gratification.
(4) The offending included occasions on which the appellant ejaculated.
(5) The appellant used his position as their father to groom his victims at a young age, providing bribes and making threats that they should not tell anyone of his offending because they would not be believed.
(6) Some of the offences against GL caused her pain.
Instead of experiencing happy childhoods, they had unhappy childhoods, which has had an impact upon them psychologically. The impact has been such, as a result of your offending, that they have also experienced a physical impact over and above the offending itself. They explained the position they were in, and the reason why they were unable to say anything and felt constrained to keep your secret with them. It's had a psychological impact.
They both had substantial issues which have interfered in their upbringing and development as young people.
I take into account the circumstances of your previous conviction on 24 November 2005, for offences of a similar nature committed against your eldest biological daughter. I accept what has been said by your counsel with respect to your incarceration on that occasion and participation in 12-month sex offender program.
...
I also accept that, as a result of your previous conviction and the counselling that you have undertaken, that you fully appreciate the need to put in place protective factors around young female children, particularly in a familial setting, and that you have not offended in that way since the commission of these offences.
The sentencing judge concluded that the appellant was at low risk of reoffending.[29]
However, if because of the delay between the offences and sentencing it appears that personal deterrence is no longer required or real progress has been made towards an offender's rehabilitation, or other mitigating factors positively emerge such matters may be taken into account.
[T]he previous terms of imprisonment served in relation to similar type offending by the offender against his eldest biological daughter and the time spent in custody in respect of those matters.
(1) The guidance afforded by comparable cases is flexible rather than rigid. The mere fact a sentence is within the range of other sentences imposed for similar offending does not necessarily establish that there was an appropriate exercise of the sentencing discretion in the particular case. Similarly, the mere fact a sentence is outside the range does not necessarily establish that the exercise of the sentencing discretion in the particular case miscarried.
(2) A sentencing range for comparable offences is merely one of the factors to be taken into account in deciding whether an individual sentence is manifestly excessive or a total effective sentence infringes the first limb of the totality principle. A range of sentences customarily imposed is of significance for the purpose of ensuring broad consistency in the sentencing of offenders in broadly comparable cases. However, a sentencing range for comparable cases does not fix the range of a sound exercise of the sentencing discretion in a particular case.
(3) When this court dismisses an appeal against sentence, and when it allows an appeal against sentence and resentences the offender, this court's decision on the sentencing outcome does not, of itself, fix the upper or lower limit of the range.
(1) GMS v The State of Western Australia,[34] where a total effective sentence of 12 years 6 months' imprisonment was imposed in respect of offending against two victims. However, the nature of the sexual offending in that case, which led to the pregnancy of one of the victims, was more egregious than in the present case. The plea of guilty was entered only the day before trial and was not accompanied by remorse.
(2) GHK v The State of Western Australia,[35] where this court imposed a total effective sentence of 14 years' imprisonment on resentence. However, in that case there were 6 victims and the nature and extent of the sexual offending was, overall, more serious than the offending in the present case.[36]
(3) LJH v The State of Western Australia,[37] where this court imposed a total effective sentence of 10 years' imprisonment on resentencing. While the offences were against a single 14 - 15-year-old complainant, the nature of the sexual offending against that complainant could be regarded as more serious than the offending against the individual complainants in the present case.
The primary sentencing considerations for offences of the kind committed by the appellant are appropriate punishment of the offender and personal and general deterrence, having regard to the need to protect vulnerable children.
It is well-established that in cases of intra-familial sexual abuse, matters personal to the offender are of less mitigatory weight than might otherwise be the case. The fact that an offender is otherwise of good character has only little weight because the offences are of a kind that, until revealed, generally do not impact on other people or upon their perception of the offender.
....
There is no 'tariff' for offences of the kind committed by the appellant (or for sex offences generally) because of the great variation that is possible in the circumstances of the offending and the offenders. The sentence to be imposed in a particular case depends on its individual facts and circumstances, having regard to the maximum penalty and all relevant sentencing factors. (citations omitted)
(1) KMB v The State of Western Australia,[41] where a total effective sentence of 14 years 6 months' imprisonment was imposed after trial and the offence was aggravated by the pregnancy of the single complainant; and
(2) ERA v The State of Western Australia,[42] where a total effective sentence of 16 years' imprisonment was imposed after trial and the offending involved a high degree of physical interference with four victims.
(3) The orders made by the District Court of Western Australia for accumulation and concurrency of the individual sentences on the 2016 indictment are set aside and there are substituted orders that:
(a) The sentences for counts 8 and 16 are to be served cumulatively upon each other and upon the sentence for count 4.
(b) The sentences for counts 1, 6, and 9, 10, 11 and 14 are to be served concurrently with each other and with the sentences for counts 4, 8 and 16.
(4) The sentence for count 4 is taken to have begun on 11 September 2017.
I certify that the preceding paragraph(s) comprise the reasons for decision of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Research Associate/Orderly to the Honourable Justice Mitchell
[2] Roffey v The State of Western Australia [2007] WASCA 246 [23] - [26].
[4] See Labrook v The State of Western Australia [2016] WASCA 127 [34] - [40].
[30] The State of Western Australia v FJG [2012] WASCA 206 [54]
[32] See JJR v The State of Western Australia [2018] WASCA 51 [105], [167].
[34] GMS v The State of Western Australia [2009] WASCA 107.
[35] GHK v The State of Western Australia [2014] WASCA 19; (2014) 238 A Crim R 178.
[37] LJH v The State of Western Australia [2016] WASCA 155; (2016) 261 A Crim R 355.
[38] CAND v The State of Western Australia [2018] WASCA 101.
[39] YDN v The State of Western Australia [2018] WASCA 62.
[40] FWB v The State of Western Australia [2016] WASCA 118 [52] - [53], [57], cited in NN v The State of Western Australia [2018] WASCA 92 [88].
[41] KMB v The State of Western Australia [2010] WASCA 212.
[42] ERA v The State of Western Australia [2013] WASCA 163.
[43] VIM v The State of Western Australia [2005] WASCA 233; (2005) 31 WAR 1 [298]; LWD v The State of Western Australia [2012] WASCA 76 [29], [40].
(2005) 31 WAR 1