REGINA v. SKINNER [2000] NSWSC 303

REGINA v. SKINNER [2000] NSWSC 303

The offender's conduct was serious as it hindered a murder investigation, but given her lack of prior significant criminal record, her plea, absence of material gain, and other mitigating factors, a recognizance to be of good behaviour for three years rather than custodial sentence is appropriate.

Parties
Crown: Regina; Prisoner: Karen Denise Skinner
Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
27 March 2000
Procedural Posture
Criminal / Sentencing
Outcome
Recognizance to be of good behaviour for three years
Legal Topics
Sentence, Hinder Police Investigation, Serious Offence, Stale Crime
Criminal Law Sentence Hinder Police Investigation Serious Offence Stale Crime

Case Brief

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Parties

Regina

Crown

Karen Denise Skinner

Prisoner

Procedural Posture

Criminal / Sentencing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Ms Skinner's acts amounted to hindering a police investigation into a murder under s.315 of the Crimes Act 1900
  2. 2 Appropriate sentence for hindering such investigation

Ratio Decidendi

The offender's conduct was serious as it hindered a murder investigation, but given her lack of prior significant criminal record, her plea, absence of material gain, and other mitigating factors, a recognizance to be of good behaviour for three years rather than custodial sentence is appropriate.

Court Disposition

Recognizance to be of good behaviour for three years

Orders

  • Prisoner to enter into a recognizance in the sum of $3,000 to be of good behaviour for three years and to come up for sentence if called on. Recognizance may be entered before a justice or magistrate.