Benjamin Minear v Luke James Collyer

BENJAMIN MINEAR v LUKE JAMES COLLYER [2008]
ACTSC 139 (17 December 2008)

APPEAL − appeal from decision of the Magistrates Court of the ACT − principles for determining appeals.
APPEAL − appeal considerations − admissibility of further evidence on appeal − Magistrates Court Act 1930 (ACT).
APPEAL − role of the DPP on appeal − appropriateness of DPP defending a sentence more severe than the one originally imposed − whether the DPP bound by original submissions on sentence.
CRIMINAL LAW − sentencing principles − nature of errors in relation to pleas of guilty.
CRIMINAL LAW − sentencing principles − error by Magistrate in treating appellant’s criminal history as a matter of aggravation.
CRIMINAL LAW − sentencing principles − whether Magistrate erred in treatment of appellant’s remorse and rehabilitation efforts.
CRIMINAL LAW − offences − act of indecency − assault occasioning actual bodily harm − common assault.

Crimes Act 1900 (ACT), subs 60(1), ss 24, 26
Crimes (Sentencing) Act 2005 (ACT), ss 10, 33, 35, 37, 77, 78
Magistrates Court Act 1930 (ACT), s 214
Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), subs 6(3)
Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), subs 93A(2)

Lowndes v The Queen (1999) 195 CLR 665
Baxter v R [2007] NSWCCA 237 (10 August 2007)
House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499
Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321
Markarian v The Queen (2006) 228 CLR 357
R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309 (17 August 2000)
Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1987) 164 CLR 465
CDJ v VAJ (1998) 197 CLR 172
Everett v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 295
R v Fowler [2007] ACTCA 4 (3 April 2007)
Raeyers v Casey [2008] ACTSC 123 (18 November 2008)

ON APPEAL FROM THE MAGISTRATES COURT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

No. SCA 93 of 2007

Judge:              Penfold J
Supreme Court of the ACT

Date:               17 December 2008

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE     )
   )           No. SCA 93 of 2007
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY            )          

ON APPEAL FROM THE MAGISTRATES COURT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

BETWEEN:     BENJAMIN MINEAR

Appellant

AND:                LUKE JAMES COLLYER

Respondent

ORDER

Judge:   Penfold J
Date:   17 December 2008
Place:   Canberra

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The appeal is allowed.

1. The appellant will be re-sentenced.

Introduction

1. Benjamin Minear has appealed from three sentences imposed in the Magistrates Court.  These relate to:

(a)one offence of committing an act of indecency without consent, under subs 60(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 of the ACT (the Crimes Act);

(b)one offence of assault, under s 26 of the Crimes Act; and

(c)one offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, under s 24 of the Crimes Act.

1. The maximum penalties for the act of indecency and the assault occasioning actual bodily harm include 5 years imprisonment, and for assault the maximum term of imprisonment is 2 years. 

Background

The circumstances of the offences

1. Late one night in August 2007 the appellant got into a taxi.  He was very intoxicated.  During the taxi-ride the appellant began to fondle…