The Sentencing Remarks.
18 The sentencing Judge, having described each offence, reviewed the sentences that had been imposed upon each co-offender. In respect of count 1, Mr Allman was sentenced by Sorby DCJ upon the basis that he was "the delivery man" for the drugs which were ultimately found in his possession (21.89 kgs). He had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. His Honour imposed a term of 2 years imprisonment with a non parole period of 13 months. In that context, Norrish DCJ said this: (ROS 11)
"The facts of the matter are that, in assessing this matter concerning this prisoner, it does not appear to me that the objective circumstances of this prisoner, compared to those of Mr (Allman), are equal, putting aside any equality or otherwise in the subjective circumstances. Whilst Mr (Allmann) was described as a delivery man and apparently sentenced accordingly, it is quite clear that the prisoner was at least warehousing the drugs in question and had a significant role in delivering the drugs to Mr (Allman), or having him pick them up from the prisoner's home to be precise, and packaging the drugs."
19 In respect to count 2, the co-offender Mr Bui was sentenced by Knox DCJ on 6 December 2005, upon the basis that he had been employed to cultivate the crop. He was, by that time, 64 years old. He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 15 months, involving a non parole period of 7½ months. However, Norrish DCJ, as I will explain, misread the sentence as a 15 month non parole period with an additional term of 7½ months. When the error was drawn to his attention, his Honour adjusted the sentence imposed upon Mr Pham, as I will explain. According to the Crown, that adjustment contributed to the inadequacy of the sentence ultimately imposed. I will return to this aspect shortly.
20 His Honour, noting that Mr Bui had been sentenced for tending the crop, said this: (ROS 17/18)
"I have no trouble whatsoever in concluding that the prisoner was directing Mr Bui in his work. Mr Bui, on the evidence available to Judge Knox, bearing in mind I have been provided with the remarks on sentence, had neither the wherewithal or the financial means to be able to conduct the cultivation. The lies the prisoner told to investigating police about the matter and the way in which he sought to minimise his role when he gave evidence before me strengthens me in the conclusion that I have reached in that regard."
21 His Honour then referred to the sentence he mistakenly believed had been imposed upon Mr Bui, adding this: (ROS 18)
"That having been said the sentence imposed on Mr Bui is, as I say, relevant. But a greater sentence must be imposed on this prisoner than that imposed on Mr Bui, given his greater role, and a greater sentence must be imposed to recognise the significant aggravating factor that the prisoner was on bail for a serious drug supply offence at the time that he committed this offence. This was an offence committed over a period of time involving some planning and organisation on the prisoner's part and, of course, some financial investment in organising the equipment for the cultivation."
22 Later in his remarks, his Honour said this: (ROS 24)
"At the end of the day the facts of the matter are that the prisoner engaged himself in substantial criminal activity for profit."
23 His Honour also dealt with the respondent's subjective case. He was a man aged 31 years. He had been born in Vietnam. He had a difficult early life. His parents had died when he was young. He had escaped from Vietnam at the age of 13 years with his eldest brother and thereafter spent six years in a refugee camp. He had ultimately gone to the Philippines and thence to Australia. He met his wife in the Philippines and they had been together for 11 years. They had two children. He arrived in Australia in 1995 and is now a citizen. The account Mr Pham gave, incidentally, where he described his early life to Dr Tran, was somewhat different from the account given to the Probation and Parole Service (which the sentencing Judge used), although the differences may be the result of language difficulties. He said, for instance, he left Vietnam with a neighbour (not his brother) and spent four years in a refugee camp (not six).
24 Since arriving in Australia, Mr Pham has worked in various unskilled jobs. He told Dr Tran that he smoked cannabis at the weekend, but was not addicted to either drugs or alcohol. He did, however, gamble. Dr Tran ultimately described him as "a pathological gambler". Since his incarceration on 20 June 2006, Mr Pham has used his time in gaol well. He was described as a "sincere and diligent worker". He has undertaken courses to improve his English.
25 His Honour then dealt with the discounts that were appropriate for having pleaded guilty, and having provided assistance. The plea to count 1 was entered when he was arraigned in the District Court (29 April 2005). His Honour believed that a 20 percent discount was appropriate. In terms of assistance, his Honour considered the criteria in s23(2) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 in evaluating that assistance. It was timely, useful, truthful and of significant benefit to the administration of justice. There was no suggestion that he would give evidence. Neither he nor his family had suffered hardship. His Honour thought, having referred to R v Cartwright (1989) 17 NSWLR 243, R v Gallagher (1991) 23 NSWLR 220 and R v Chu, per Spigelman CJ (unreported, NSWCCA, 16.10.98), that a 30 percent discount was appropriate.
26 The plea in respect of count 2 had been entered in the Local Court on 24 October 2005. The calculation of the appropriate discount was, however, more complex. His Honour said this: (ROS 16/17)
"In relation to the second charge in time the prisoner is entitled, in my view, likewise to a discount for the cooperation previously given. But it is not as great in the sense that it pre-dates the commission of this offence which shows something of a cynical attitude on the part of the prisoner when he committed the second offence. It therefore cannot be regarded relevantly as timely. However, of course, the cooperation as I said was significant. Again it related to an unrelated offence.
I do not propose to go through the criteria, which are not exclusive of course, set out in section 23(2). The discount should however be less in relation to the second offence given the relationship of the offence in time to the cooperation. This was, as I understood it, accepted in the submissions available to me from the counsel for the accused.
In my view the discount, taking all relevant matters into account for that cooperation, should be on of 25 percent. This 25 percent discount is upon the sentence arrived at having given the prisoner a discount of 25 percent for the utilitarian benefit of the plea in accordance with the guideline judgment of Thomas and Houlton. The discount is calculated in accordance with what is set out in the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal in Regina v NP [2003] NSWCCA 195, as was submitted by counsel for the accused."
27 According to the Crown's calculation, his Honour did not allow the full 50 percent. Rather, he discounted for overlap, applying an overall discount of 43.75 percent. His Honour identified in respect of count 2 a starting point of 5 years which, after discount, reduced to 2 years and 10 months with a non parole period of 12 months (reflecting a finding of special circumstances).
28 Having concluded his remarks, counsel for Mr Pham drew attention to the error in respect of the sentence of Mr Bui. His Honour then adjusted the starting point for Mr Pham, reducing it from 5 years to 4 years. He then applied the discount, saying this: (ROS 26)
" ... adjusting the staring point, bearing in mind there is greater criminality on the part of the prisoner as I have found it, from 5 years to 4 years. This would leave with the discounts I have applied a total sentence of 2 years 3 months. What I propose to do is to adjust the non parole period from 1 year to 8 months. Do you have anything to say in relation to that?"
29 Nothing was said by the Crown in opposition to that course.
The Crown Submissions.
30 The Crown identified two suggested errors, namely:
Ground 1: The individual sentences and the effective sentence are manifestly inadequate because his Honour gave an excessive combined discount for assistance and the pleas.