NSW Police v FA
[2017] NSWLC 6
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Local Court of NSW
Decision date
2016-11-24
Catchwords
- R v Magennis
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Catchwords
Judgment (11 paragraphs)
Judgment
- The defendant is before the Court today for sentence in respect of a number of serious offences. He has pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing an unauthorised firearm contrary to section 7A(1) of the Firearms Act 1996, one charge of possessing prohibited weapons contrary to section 7(1) of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998, and one charge of possess prohibited drug being methylamphetamine. In addition there are three charges, one of possessing ammunition without holding a license, permit or authority contrary to section 65(3) of the Firearms Act, one of not keeping a firearm safely contrary to section 39(1)(a) of the Firearms Act, and one of possess prohibited drug being cannabis leaf contrary to s 10(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985, all of which offences are to be taken into account by me on a Form 1 in dealing with the possess unauthorised firearm charge. The charge of possessing an unauthorised firearm in breach of section 7A (1) of the Firearms Act 1996 provides for a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment. If dealt with in the Local Court the maximum penalty is one of 50 penalty units and/or 2 years imprisonment. The offence of possessing prohibited weapons pursuant to the Weapons Prohibition Act provides for a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment if dealt with on indictment. In the Local Court the maximum penalty is 100 penalty units and/or 2 years imprisonment. The drug offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units and/or 2 years imprisonment. The matter came before me for sentence on 24 November 2016 at which time Sgt Drake appeared for the Police and Mr Gartelmann of Senior Counsel instructed by Mr O'Brien appeared for the defendant. Following the taking of submissions I formed the view that a sentence of imprisonment was inevitable but that such sentence would be for a period of not more than 2 years. In those circumstances I referred the defendant for assessment as to his suitability to undertake any sentence imposed by way of intensive correction order. I will return to this issue later in these reasons.