New Zealand Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

New Zealand Case Law

Possession of controlled drugs and utensils
  • 24 Oct 2019

    FERGUSON v NEW ZEALAND POLICE [2019] NZHC 2753

    Citation
    [2019] NZHC 2753
    Court
    High Court

    The High Court found the District Court's seven month sentence manifestly excessive; set a starting point of four months for the s194A offence (reflecting low to mid culpability), uplifted two months for drug convictions and one month for prior offences, applied a one month deduction for remorse and a 25% guilty plea discount, resulting in an overall effective sentence of four months' imprisonment on the lead charge with concurrent two month terms on the drug charges.

    • Assault on a person in a family relationship (s194a)
    • Possession of controlled drugs and utensils
    • Sentencing starting points and uplifts
    • Totality principle
    • Guilty plea and remorse discounts
    • Manifestly excessive test