Miles v The Queen [2001] NTCA 9

Miles v The Queen [2001] NTCA 9 - NTCA 2001 case summary — Zoe

[12]

[8]

The offending the subject of this appeal came to light in the following way. In 1997 the police provided an informer with $800 in bank notes the numbers of which had previously been recorded. The informer used that money to purchase heroin from Brian Fraser on18 January 1997. The heroin purchased was contained in a mixture of white powder stored inside a small balloon. On 19 January 1997 police executed a search warrant at premises occupied by the appellant and found a large amount of cash in separate bundles. The cash included the eight $100 notes that had previously been identified and recorded and passed by the informer to Mr Fraser. During the course of the search the appellant volunteered information which led police to locate a plastic container in which were found a number of balloons similar to the one that had been handed on by Mr Fraser to the informer. Upon analysis each of the balloons contained heroin and the analysis revealed that the heroin seized at the time of the search at the appellant's premises matched the heroin found in the balloon that had been handed on by Mr Fraser to the informer. The appellant denied any involvement with any heroin. He suggested at his trial that the numbered bank notes had been "planted" during the course of the police search and, further, that the location of the heroin found in the plastic container was not something of which the appellant had informed the police. Notwithstanding his denials the appellant was found guilty.

[9]

On 10 October 2000 the appellant was granted leave to appeal against his sentence on three grounds, namely: that the sentence was manifestly excessive; that the sentencing Judge erred in ordering partial cumulation of the penalties imposed in respect of the supply and possession charges; and that the overall sentence infringed the totality principle.

[10]

The principles applicable to an appeal against sentence are well known. Sentencing is a matter of discretion and there is a strong presumption that the sentences and non-parole period imposed are correct. In the absence of demonstrated error the appellant must show that the sentencing Judge imposed a sentence that is so obviously excessive that it is manifestly unreasonable or plainly unjust. The sentence must be clearly and obviously, and not just arguably, excessive. It must be so disproportionate to the sentence required as to indicate error. It is not enough that this Court would have imposed a lesser or different sentence. See R v Nagas [1995] NTSC 109; (1995) 5 NTLR 45 at 50-52.

[13]

[11]

Complaint was made that in all of the circumstances the sentence for each of the offences was manifestly excessive, as was the non-parole period. It was the submission for the appellant that the sentences were "so far outside the range of sentences as to manifest error".

[12]

The sentences imposed upon the appellant were for a period of five years and six months in respect of the charge of supply heroin and three years and six months for the charge of possess heroin. This is a total of nine years imprisonment in respect of the two offences. However the learned sentencing Judge directed that two years of those sentences be served concurrently leaving an effective sentence of seven years imprisonment with a non-parole period of five years and three months. In addition the appellant was required by statute to serve a period of eighteen months imprisonment by virtue of the reinstatement of the balance of his sentence for the 1991 offence of importing heroin. Altogether the appellant was effectively sentenced to imprisonment for a period of eight years and six months with a non-parole period of six years and nine months.

[13]

The appellant pointed out that the amount of heroin that had been supplied was 0.39 milligrams and the amount of heroin found to be in his possession was 4.12 grams. It was submitted that a traffickable quantity of heroin was between 2 grams and 40 grams and the amount found to be in the possession of the appellant was therefore at the lower end of the range.

[14]

Reference was made to a schedule of convictions and penalties imposed upon offenders who were dealt with by the courts as a result of the co-operation of the particular informant with the authorities. His Honour noted that those matters were "not truly comparative" and the distinguishing features "were plain". However he reviewed and had regard to each sentence. Given the wide variation in the nature of the offences and in the circumstances of the individual offenders referred to, compared with the situation of the appellant, I found the information contained in the Schedule to be of no assistance.

[15]

Although the quantity of heroin involved was not substantial, the offending in this case can only be regarded as extremely serious. The circumstances surrounding the offending include that this was not the first offence of its kind for the appellant. He had previously been convicted of a serious drug offence leading to the imposition of a lengthy sentence of imprisonment. At the time of being sentenced for those matters the appellant was given a clear warning of the consequences of any further offending. At the time of the subject offending the appellant was on parole in relation to the earlier offending. He was obviously not deterred from further offending by the significant period of time that he had already spent in custody. Nor by the threat that he would serve the balance of that sentence if caught re-offending.

[16]

The appellant maintained his denial of involvement in the offences and did so in a way that sought to blame others and attribute unlawful conduct to others. He is not to be further punished for conducting his defence in this way but such conduct means that he has demonstrated no remorse for his actions and that he is not accepting responsibility for what he has done. As the learned sentencing Judge noted "there is no room for mitigation of penalty based upon remorse".

[17]

There was no indication of any motive for offending on this occasion. The appellant was not an addict nor, it would seem, even a casual user of heroin. There was no suggestion of any pressing need for money or of any matter that might explain why a person in his situation would re-offend at all let alone whilst he was on parole. The appellant was not conducting this enterprise with a view to ensuring a supply of heroin for himself. It was a purely commercial operation. The learned sentencing Judge adopted the observations of Kearney J made in sentencing Mr Fraser:

[15]

[18]

At the time of these offences the appellant was in his mid-30's and therefore not entitled to any benefit that might have flowed from being a youthful offender. He did not co-operate with the authorities in any meaningful way. He was a repeat offender and his involvement was more akin to a wholesaler rather than a retailer of the drug. He had a source of supply from which he provided some heroin to Mr Fraser who in turn supplied the heroin to another. Whether he is properly characterised as a wholesaler or retailer he was removed from the situation of being the end retailer. The appellant was not a street dealer. He had supplied sufficient heroin to Mr Fraser to enable the on-sale of heroin to others. The heroin possessed by the appellant was valued at between $7200 and $40,000 depending upon the method of supply to others.

[19]

The prospects for the rehabilitation of the appellant in all of those circumstances are substantially lessened. His Honour correctly regarded as significant for sentencing purposes the prospect that the appellant may again put the community at risk. Further, the need for both personal and general deterrence were clearly matters of importance in the sentencing process. There was limited opportunity for his Honour to extend leniency to the appellant.

[20]

In relation to the individual head sentences for the charges of possession of heroin and supply of heroin the appellant says that his Honour failed to take into account or give sufficient weight to the conduct of the appellant at the trial, the personal circumstances of the appellant and the appellant's efforts at rehabilitation including his prospects for further rehabilitation.

[21]

It was submitted that at the trial the appellant, who at that stage represented himself, conducted himself in an appropriate manner. He was said to have been courteous and polite and that he made admissions as to the chain of custody of the heroin and thereby saved the community the cost and inconvenience of calling witnesses as to that issue. Whilst those matters may be so they must be seen in the context of the whole of the conduct of the appellant in the trial. He presented a defence that was based upon an allegation of unlawful conduct on the part of the authorities and upon what the jury must have found to be false denials. Viewed as a whole it can not be said that the conduct of the appellant in the course of the trial was such that he should be given some credit for it. The learned sentencing Judge looked at his conduct and noted, correctly, that the defence that he presented should not be held against him. However, viewed in its totality, the conduct of the defence was such that it did not call for the granting to the appellant of leniency in the sentencing process.

[22]

When the appellant was sentenced in November 1998 the learned sentencing Judge did not have before him information regarding the antecedents of the appellant. At that time the appellant continued to represent himself. When the matter came back before the learned sentencing Judge in July 2000 the appellant was represented by experienced counsel and further information was provided to the Court. The personal circumstances of the appellant were the subject of submission and were referred to by his Honour in the course of his sentencing remarks. I see no basis for the submission that these matters were not taken into account by his Honour or were not given sufficient weight.

[23]

In this Court it was submitted that his Honour failed to take into account or accord sufficient weight to the appellant's rehabilitation to date and the prospects for further rehabilitation. The sentencing remarks addressed the submissions that were put to his Honour on this issue. His Honour said:

[18]

[25]

It is clear from those remarks that his Honour in fact considered the appellant's rehabilitation and the prospects for further rehabilitation. Those matters were taken into account.

[26]

When one considers the individual sentences imposed by the learned sentencing Judge in this matter those sentences must be considered in the context of all of the surrounding circumstances. Whilst the sentences can be seen to be severe that is not surprising given the seriousness of the offending considered in light of those surrounding circumstances. In my view, whilst the head sentences imposed can be legitimately described as being at the top end of the range of penalties available, they cannot be said to be manifestly excessive. They are not so disproportionate to the circumstances as would indicate error and they should not be interfered with.

[27]

It was the submission of the appellant that the non-parole period imposed by the learned sentencing Judge reflected the fact that his Honour could not have given sufficient weight to the appellant's prospects for rehabilitation. Particular reference was made to the appellant's difficult background, his limited education, his psychiatric problems and the "significant steps" already taken towards rehabilitation whilst in custody. It was submitted that a significantly lower non-parole period ought to have been fixed.

[28]

In determining the non-parole period his Honour observed that "the minimum 50% is inadequate, bearing in mind your breach of parole in respect of the Federal offence, coupled with your distinct lack of any sign of remorse." The appellant says that in proceeding in this way his Honour effectively punished the appellant twice for the breach of parole. It was submitted that the appellant was obliged to return to prison for his breach of parole and the breach was again given weight by his Honour in establishing the non-parole period in respect of the Territory offences.

[29]

The purpose of parole has been addressed by the High Court in Power v The Queen [1974] HCA 26; (1974) 131 CLR 623 (at 629) where Barwick CJ, Menzies, Stephen and Mason JJ were dealing with ACT legislation and described parole as being intended to "provide for mitigation of the punishment of the prisoner in favour of his rehabilitation through conditional freedom, when appropriate, once the prisoner has served the minimum time that a judge determines justice requires that he must serve having regard to all the circumstances of his offence." This observation was adopted by Dawson, Toohey and Gaudron JJ in Bugmy v The Queen [1990] HCA 18; (1990) 169 CLR 525 at 536. In fixing the non-parole period the sentencing Judge does not approach the task on the footing that "he or she is solely or primarily concerned with the prisoner's prospects for rehabilitation. Power v The Queen ... put paid to that notion": Bugmy v The Queen (supra at 530-531). Relevant factors in fixing a non-parole period will include the prospects for rehabilitation of the prisoner along with matters relevant to the wider interests of the community that are taken into account in fixing the head sentence. Such matters will include, where appropriate, the need for community protection as well as personal and general deterrence: Lane (1995) 80 A Crim R 208 at 210-211.

[30]

The submission of the appellant that he was "punished twice" for the breach of parole is not soundly based. The appellant was required to return to prison because his parole order was revoked by operation of s 19AQ of the Crimes Act. The fact that he had breached his parole was also a matter relevant to the imposition of a further non-parole period in relation to the offences committed in January 1997. Taking that matter into account did not mean that the appellant was being punished again but rather impacted upon the ability of the Court to provide for early conditional release or a shorter non-parole period. It affected the consideration of matters such as the prospects for rehabilitation, the need for community protection and personal deterrence.

[31]

In the present case the non-parole period set by the learned sentencing Judge was a period of five years and three months. In my view the non-parole period set by his Honour in respect of sentences he imposed has not been demonstrated as being in error. It is not manifestly excessive.

[32]

Because the appellant had also to serve the remainder of his earlier sentence he was not eligible for release on parole for a period of six years and nine months. His Honour referred to the provisions of the Crimes Act and in particular the requirements of s 19AR(3)(e) which provides that where the unserved part of the outstanding sentence is three years or less (as is the case here) "the court imposing the new sentence or sentences must not fix a non-parole period but may make a recognizance release order in respect of the outstanding sentence or sentences". His Honour declined to make a recognizance release order because that order would be overtaken by the obligation of the appellant to commence serving the Territory sentence. The appellant makes no complaint in relation to this aspect of the reasoning of his Honour. However it remains relevant to the submissions made as to the totality principle addressed later in these reasons.

[30]

[41]

The final submission of the appellant was that the overall sentence imposed upon him infringed the totality principle. This occurred by virtue of the partial cumulation of the sentences for possessing heroin and supplying heroin and, further, by making the total effective sentence of seven years cumulative upon the eighteen months imprisonment required to be served under the Crimes Act. As a consequence of that process the effective total head sentence was eight years and six months imprisonment with a non-parole period of six years and nine months. The submission was that the overall criminality of the appellant did not justify a sentence of that magnitude and "an appropriate result could have been achieved by reducing the sentences in respect of each of the possession and supply charges, or by ordering total concurrency between the sentences imposed in respect of the possession and supply charges or by ordering concurrency with the federal sentence".

[42]

The totality principle requires a sentencing Judge who orders an offender to serve consecutive sentences for multiple offences to ensure that the cumulative sentence does not exceed the overall culpability of the offender: Postiglione v The Queen [1997] HCA 26; (1996-1997) 189 CLR 295 at 340; Mill v The Queen (1988-1989) 166 CLR 59 at 62-63. The aggregate sentence must be "just and appropriate" and not "crushing". That sentence is to be considered in light of "the total criminality involved not only in the offences for which the offender is being sentenced, but also in any offences for which the offender is currently serving a sentence": Postiglione v The Queen (supra at 308).

[43]

Reference to the sentencing remarks of the learned sentencing Judge reveals that he did not undertake expressly the exercise discussed in the above authorities. In my view it was an error to fail to do so. Consideration of the fact that the head sentence becomes effectively imprisonment for eight years and six months and that the appellant must serve a period of imprisonment of six years and nine months before becoming eligible for parole leads to the conclusion that the sentence was not "just and appropriate", it was crushing. It is appropriate to effect a reduction in that period by making an order for concurrency as between the sentences imposed for the possession and supply charges on the one hand with the reinstated sentence of eighteen months imprisonment on the other hand. I would direct that those sentences be served concurrently as to the period of twelve months. To that period of concurrency I would add one month to provide for time spent in custody making a total period of concurrency of thirteen months.

[44]

The sentence I would impose would be as follows. The appellant be sentenced to imprisonment for five years and six months in respect of the offence of supply heroin. He be sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment in respect of the offence of possess heroin. Those two sentences run concurrently as to the period of two years making an effective sentence of seven years imprisonment. The non-parole period is five years and three months. By operation of statute the appellant is required to serve the unserved portion of the earlier sentence being eighteen months imprisonment. The sentences now imposed will be served concurrently with that sentence as to the period of thirteen months. The sentence of imprisonment now imposed and the non-parole period will commence thirteen months prior to the expiry of the period the appellant must serve by operation of the Crimes Act in respect of the importation charge.

[45]

I would allow the appeal and sentence the appellant accordingly.

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