R v Rann

The matter before the court was an appeal against sentence by the convicted person, Rann, who had pleaded guilty to six counts of assault occasioning bodily harm against his 16 and a half month old daughter. The assaults were committed over a period of 12 hours, resulting in the complainant suffering a cut to her lower lip and bruising to various parts of her body. Rann was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, to be suspended after serving six months, with an operational period of three years. The legal issue before the court was whether the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive.

The court examined the nature and circumstances of the offences, the degree of Rann's culpability, and his remorse and rehabilitation efforts. The court noted that the assaults were particularly serious due to the vulnerability of the victim and the severity of the injuries inflicted. However, it also considered Rann's remorse, his efforts to rehabilitate himself, and the fact that he had no prior criminal history. The court concluded that the sentence imposed was not manifestly excessive and dismissed the appeal against sentence. The court also refused Rann leave to appeal against sentence.