R v Kalamaris

Case [2002] VSCA 185


SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA

COURT OF APPEAL

No. 320 of 2001

THE QUEEN

v.

ANTHONY JOHN KALAMARIS

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JUDGES:

WINNEKE, P., EAMES, J.A. and O'BRYAN, A.J.A.

WHERE HELD:

MELBOURNE

DATE OF HEARING:

11 November 2002

DATE OF JUDGMENT:

11 November 2002

MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:

[2002] VSCA 185

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APPEARANCES: Counsel Solicitors
For the Crown Mr C.J. Ryan K. Robertson, Solicitor for Public Prosecutions
For the Appellant Mr M.J. Croucher

WINNEKE, P. (Delivering the judgment of the Court):

  1. This is an appeal by Anthony Kalamaris against the sentence imposed by her Honour Judge King in the County Court on 16 December 2001, by which her Honour imposed a total effective sentence upon the appellant of four years and ordered that two years of that sentence be served cumulatively upon the total effective sentence of three years which had been imposed upon the appellant on 23 August 2001 by Judge Crossley in the County Court.  Judge Crossley ordered the appellant to serve a non-parole period of two years, which was to commence on the date of his sentence, namely, 23 August 2001.  When Judge King imposed sentence on 16 December 2001, she was required to impose a new non-parole period, which she said would be one of "three years from this day", that is, 16 December 2001.  However, she also said that it was her intention that the appellant serve "an additional one year minimum term" to that which had been ordered by Judge Crossley.

  1. Because there appears to have been a discrepancy between the orders made by her Honour and her intentions, particularly having regard to the credits for pre-sentence detention, I granted leave to appeal in this matter on 20 September last.  It has been agreed that the sentence imposed by Judge King should be amended to conform with her stated intentions.  The appellant does not claim that the sentences actually imposed by her Honour were manifestly excessive.

  1. We are satisfied that the appeal should therefore be allowed and that the sentence imposed in the terms which her Honour did impose should be quashed.  In lieu thereof we will order that the appellant be re-sentenced as follows:

on count 1   -   four years' imprisonment;
           on count 2   -   two years' imprisonment;
           on count 3   -   one year's imprisonment.

The total effective sentence is therefore one of four years.  Two years of that sentence are to be served cumulatively upon the sentence imposed by Judge Crossley on 23 August 2001, producing a total effective sentence of five years to be served from 23 August 2001.

We further order that the appellant serve a period of three years from 23 August 2001 before becoming eligible for parole.

We further direct pursuant to s.18 of the Sentencing Act that a period of 200 days' pre-sentence detention should be declared as having been served pursuant to this sentence as at 23 August 2001.  The earliest release date of the appellant should therefore be 2 February 2004.

Details
AGLC
R v Kalamaris [2002] VSCA 185
Case
[2002] VSCA 185
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the Supreme Court of Victoria, the appeal of Anthony John Kalamaris against the sentence imposed by Judge King was heard by Winneke, P., Eames, J.A. and O'Bryan, A.J.A. The appellant contested the sentence imposed by Judge King on 16 December 2001, which was a total effective sentence of four years, with two years to be served cumulatively upon a previous sentence of three years imposed by Judge Crossley on 23 August 2001. The appellant did not contest the severity of the sentences but rather the discrepancy between the orders made and Judge King's stated intentions. Leave to appeal was granted to address this discrepancy.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the sentence imposed by Judge King conformed to her stated intentions, particularly considering the credits for pre-sentence detention. The court examined whether the appellant's sentence should be amended to align with Judge King's intentions, ensuring that the total effective sentence was correctly calculated and that the appellant's eligibility for parole was accurately determined. The court also needed to address the proper calculation of pre-sentence detention credits and their impact on the appellant's release date.

The court found that the sentence imposed by Judge King did not align with her stated intentions, leading to a discrepancy in the non-parole period and the cumulative sentence. Consequently, the court allowed the appeal and quashed the original sentence. It ordered a re-sentencing with specific terms for each count and a total effective sentence of four years, with two years to be served cumulatively upon the previous sentence. The court also set a non-parole period of three years, effective from 23 August 2001, and directed that 200 days of pre-sentence detention be credited. The earliest release date for the appellant was set for 2 February 2004.

Orders

Orders of the court

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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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