Porter v R
[2019] NSWCCA 117
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW)
Decision date
2019-05-01
Before
Hoeben CJ, Hulme J, Davies J
Catchwords
- [2013] HCA 37 Dimian v R [2016] NSWCCA 223 Imbornone v R [2017] NSWCCA 144 Kentwell v The Queen (2014) 252 CLR 601
- [2014] HCA 37 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Catchwords
Judgment (24 paragraphs)
Solicitors: Aboriginal Legal Service Solicitor for Public Prosecutions File Number(s): 2015/269235 Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: District Court Date of Decision: 19 February 2018 Before: Jeffreys DCJ File Number(s): 2015/269235
HEADNOTE [This headnote is not to be read as part of the judgment] Mr Anthony Francis Porter (the applicant) was sentenced in respect of offences of aggravated sexual intercourse without consent contrary to s 61J(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). The offences were committed against the same victim on the same occasion, namely late on the evening of 5-6 January 2002 in Griffith. The offences were reported at the time; although the applicant was not identified until DNA testing occurred in 2015. In February 2018, the applicant was sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 8 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 4 years. Relevantly, the applicant had been convicted and sentenced for similar serious sexual offences on two other occasions in February 2001 and February 2002. His sentences for those offences expired in 2016. The applicant sought leave to appeal in respect of the aggregate sentence imposed by Jeffreys DCJ. The grounds of appeal were: The sentencing judge erred in his approach to the principle of totality. The sentencing judge failed to make a determination as to remorse. The sentencing judge failed to make a determination as to the applicant's prospects for rehabilitation. The sentencing judge failed to make a determination as to the applicant's likelihood of reoffending. Whether the sentencing judge erred in his approach to the principle of totality (i) The sentencing judge should have addressed the question of "what would likely have been the effective head sentence imposed if the applicant had been sentenced at the one time for the three sets of aggravated sexual assaults against the three victims?" The sentencing judge erred in his failure to give reasons for his consideration of the "principle of totality in criminality", an issue which implicitly arose from consideration of the question. [50]-[55] (R A Hulme J); [1] (Hoeben CJ at CL); [94] (Davies J). Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70 at 66, referred to. (ii) A relevant matter in consideration of the relevance of delay between offending and sentencing is whether it is attributable to the action or inaction of the offender. [69]-[74] (R A Hulme J); [1] (Hoeben CJ at CL); [94] (Davies J). R v Todd [1982] 2 NSWLR 517, Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70, R v Kay [2004] NSWCCA 130; R v Hall [2017] NSWCCA 313 and WAP v R [2017] NSWCCA 212 referred to. (iii) Considering the principle of totality and the question posed in Mill v The Queen, if the applicant had been sentenced for all offences at the one time, the sentence for an offence committed last in time would likely have been longer. A third episode of serious sexual assaults within a relatively short time would have indicated that the offender was a danger to women. Personal deterrence and community protection would have been very significant factors. [76] (R A Hulme J); [1] (Hoeben CJ at CL); [94] (Davies J). Whether the sentencing judge failed to make a determination as to remorse, rehabilitation prospects and likelihood of reoffending (iv) The sentencing judge erred in his failure to make any determination in relation to the applicant's submissions and evidence in support of remorse as a mitigating factor in sentencing. [56]-[61] (R A Hulme J); [1] (Hoeben CJ at CL); [94] (Davies J). (v) The sentencing judge erred in his failure to give reasons for his determination in relation to the applicant's submissions as to prospects for rehabilitation and likelihood of reoffending. [62]-[66] (R A Hulme J); [1] (Hoeben CJ at CL); [94] (Davies J).