R v Krajewski, Miglio Alexander

The defendants, Krajewski and Miglio Alexander, were convicted of robbery committed with an offensive weapon and the attempted acquisition of a prohibited substance. The case was heard in the District Court of New South Wales. The primary dispute centred around the severity of the sentences given to the defendants, considering their backgrounds, the nature of the crime, and their cooperation with authorities.

The court was tasked with determining the appropriate punishment for the defendants, taking into account several mitigating and aggravating factors. These included the defendants' ages, prior criminal records, the lack of premeditation in the crime, their cooperation with authorities, and their personal circumstances. The court had to balance these factors against the gravity of the crime, which involved robbing a pharmacy at knifepoint and attempting to obtain prescription drugs under duress.

In delivering its judgment, the court recognised the defendants' early guilty pleas, which entitled them to a significant discount on their sentences. The court also noted the defendants' lack of prior planning and the impulsive nature of their actions, which were influenced by their drug addiction. The court acknowledged the defendants' efforts to address their drug addiction through treatment at Odyssey House. The court further considered the disparity in sentencing between the defendants and their co-accused, who had already been sentenced in the Local Court to lesser penalties. Ultimately, the court imposed sentences that reflected the defendants' backgrounds and the mitigating circumstances while ensuring the seriousness of the crime was duly recognised.

The court ordered the matter be adjourned to allow the defendants to complete their rehabilitation program at Odyssey House. The specific sentencing orders are detailed in the judgment at paragraph [88].