Craft v Diebert

Case [2004] ACTCA 15


DAVID LEE CRAFT v NEVILLE WILLIAM DIEBERT [2004] ACTCA 15 (12 August 2004)

CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – discretion provide by s 4 of the Periodic Detention Act –whether constrained by direction in s 345 of the Crimes Act not to pass sentence of imprisonment unless no other penalty is appropriate – relevance of other statutory provisions concerning sentencing – general principles.

Crimes Act 1900 (ACT), ss 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 375, 403
Periodic Detention Act 1995 (ACT), ss 3, 4
Rehabilitation of Offenders (Interim) Act 2001 (ACT), s 6
Drugs of Dependence Act 1989 (ACT), ss 162(3), 169(1)
Magistrates Court Act 1930 (ACT), ss 207, 208, 214, 218
Supreme Court Act 1933 (ACT), ss 37E, 37O
Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), s 24
Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)

R v Sinclair (1990) 51 A Crim R 418
R v Tilley (1991) 53 A Crim R 1
Dinsdale v R (2000) 202 CLR 321
House v R (1936) 55 CLR 499
R v Tait (1979) 46 FLR 386
Western Australia v Ward (2002) 191 ALR 1
Petreski v Cargill (1987) 18 FCR 68
Duralla Pty Ltd v Plant (1984) 2 FCR 342
CDJ v VAJ (1998) 197 CLR 172
Allesch v Maunz (2000) 203 CLR 172

ON APPEAL FROM A JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

No. ACTCA 56-2003
No. SCA 69 of 2003

Judges:        Crispin P, Connolly and French JJ
Court of Appeal of the Australian Capital Territory
Date:           12 August 2004

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE     )          No. ACTCA 56-2003
  )          No. SCA 69 of 2003
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY )
  )

COURT OF APPEAL  )

ON APPEAL FROM A JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

BETWEEN:DAVID LEE CRAFT

Appellant

AND:NEVILLE WILLIAM DIEBERT

Respondent

ORDER

Judges:  Crispin P, Connolly and French JJ
Date:  12 August 2004
Place:  Canberra

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

  1. The appeal is allowed.

  1. The periodic detention order imposed by the Supreme Court on 12 December 2003 be set aside with effect from today.

  1. The respondent serve the balance of the term of imprisonment imposed upon him by the learned magistrate after allowing credit for:

(i)       the time actually served prior to the Supreme Court’s periodic detention order made on 12 December 2003;

(ii)       the number of weeks in which the respondent has served periodic detention pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court made on 12 December 2003.

  1. The parties have liberty to apply for any supplementary orders necessary to clarify or give effect to the preceding orders.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE     )          No. ACTCA 56-2003
  )          No. SCA 69 of 2003
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY )
  )

COURT OF APPEAL  )

ON APPEAL FROM A JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

BETWEEN:DAVID LEE CRAFT

Appellant

AND:NEVILLE WILLIAM DIEBERT

Respondent

Judges:Crispin P, Connolly and French JJ

Date:  12 August 2004
Place:  Canberra

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

CRISPIN P and CONNOLLY J:

  1. We agree with French J…

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AGLC
Craft v Diebert [2004] ACTCA 15
Case
[2004] ACTCA 15
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The parties in this matter were Craft (appellant) and Diebert (respondent). The dispute concerned the sentencing of the appellant, and the case was heard by the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether the discretion granted by section 4 of the *Periodic Detention Act 1970* (NSW) to impose periodic detention was constrained by the direction in section 345 of the *Crimes Act 1900* (NSW) that a sentence of imprisonment should not be passed unless no other penalty is appropriate. The Court was also required to consider the relevance of other statutory provisions concerning sentencing and general sentencing principles.

The Court reasoned that section 345 of the *Crimes Act* imposed a general principle that imprisonment should be a last resort. However, section 4 of the *Periodic Detention Act* provided a specific sentencing option that was distinct from full-time imprisonment. The Court held that the specific provisions of the *Periodic Detention Act* were not intended to be overridden by the general prohibition in section 345 of the *Crimes Act*. Therefore, the discretion to impose periodic detention was not constrained in the manner argued by the respondent.

The appeal was allowed.

Orders

Orders of the court

1.

The appeal is allowed.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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