R v Meakin (No. 3)

In the case of R v Meakin, the offender was convicted of murder and the matter was before the court for sentencing. The offender, who had a history of violence and drink-driving, had been drinking at a hotel for approximately 10 hours. During this time, he engaged in an altercation with the victim before striking the victim with a punch. The altercation was broken up by a security guard, and the victim left the hotel premises to walk home. The offender subsequently drove his van from the hotel and struck the victim at an estimated speed of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour, resulting in the victim's death. The offender's blood alcohol concentration at the time of the incident was estimated to be between.2 and.3.

The court was required to determine the appropriate sentence for the offender, taking into account the nature and circumstances of the offence, as well as the offender's criminal history and character. The court considered the offender's lack of remorse, the level of intoxication at the time of the incident, and the offender's prior record of violence and drink-driving. The court also considered the need for general deterrence in sentencing the offender.

The court determined that the offender's actions were of a high level of culpability and that a significant sentence was necessary to achieve the purposes of punishment, including general deterrence. The court noted that the offender's lack of remorse and prior criminal history were aggravating factors, while the offender's intoxication at the time of the incident was a mitigating factor. The court ultimately determined that a sentence of imprisonment was appropriate, with a non-parole period of 20 years. The court also imposed a 15-year concurrent sentence for the offence of dangerous driving causing death.