Donaczy v Regina [2010] NSWCCA 143

Donaczy v Regina [2010] NSWCCA 143

The sentencing judge made no error of principle. A 20 per cent guilty plea discount was open because the plea came 16 months after arrest and charge; the judge had regard to Fernando and carefully weighed the applicant's subjective circumstances but was not required to give them significant mitigating weight; and...

Source-derived case information.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
06 July 2010
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal Against Sentence for Manslaughter by Unlawful and Dangerous Act / Application for Leave to Appeal Against Sentence in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal
Outcome
Leave to appeal granted. Appeal dismissed.
Legal Topics
['guilty Plea Discount' 'manslaughter by Unlawful and Dangerous Act' 'r V Fernando Principles' 'objective Seriousness' 'manifest Excess' 'alcohol Related Public Violence']
['criminal Law' 'sentencing' 'appellate Procedure'] ['guilty Plea Discount' 'manslaughter by Unlawful and Dangerous Act' 'r V Fernando Principles' 'objective Seriousness' 'manifest Excess' 'alcohol Related Public Violence']

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Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal Against Sentence for Manslaughter by Unlawful and Dangerous Act / Application for Leave to Appeal Against Sentence in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal

  1. 1 ['Whether the sentencing judge erred by assessing the discount for the guilty plea at 20 per cent rather than 25 per cent.' 'Whether the sentencing judge failed to have proper regard to the principles in R v Fernando (1992) 76 A Crim R 58.' 'Whether the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive.']

Ratio Decidendi

The sentencing judge made no error of principle. A 20 per cent guilty plea discount was open because the plea came 16 months after arrest and charge; the judge had regard to Fernando and carefully weighed the applicant's subjective circumstances but was not required to give them significant mitigating weight; and the six-year sentence with a non-parole period of three years six months was within range for a serious, unexpected, heavy blow to the head delivered in a public alcohol-related setting to a victim who posed no genuine threat.

Court Disposition

Leave to appeal granted. Appeal dismissed.

Orders

  • ['Grant leave to appeal.' 'Dismiss the appeal.']