R v Forrest (No 2)

In the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, Michael Paul Forrest was convicted on 12 counts, relating to six incidents that occurred over a one-month period. The charges were for offences including aggravated robbery, damaging property, burglary, theft, obtaining property by deception, riding in a motor vehicle taken without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, unauthorised possession of a firearm, driving while disqualified, and incitement to commit an offence. The court had to determine the appropriate sentence for the offender, taking into account the seriousness of the offences, the offender's history of offending and rehabilitation attempts, and the sentencing purposes of deterrence, denunciation, and rehabilitation. The court also had to consider the concurrency of sentences for offences committed while the offender was in lawful custody. The court found the offences to be extremely serious, particularly those involving firearms and violence. The offender had a long history of offending, substance abuse, and failed rehabilitation attempts, but also showed some willingness to engage in rehabilitation programs during the current period of incarceration. The court imposed a total sentence of 12 years and 10 months' imprisonment, with a nonparole period of 8 years and 6 months. The sentence for incitement to commit an offence was ordered to be served concurrently with the sentences for the other offences.