Streets v Tasmania

Streets v Tasmania concerned an appeal against sentence brought by the appellants before the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Tasmania. The appellants had pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated armed robbery, both involving the same pharmacy and the use of a knife. They argued that the sentences imposed by the sentencing judge were manifestly excessive.

The central legal issue before the Full Court was whether the sentences of five years' imprisonment, with parole eligibility after serving half the term, were demonstrably too severe given the circumstances of the offences and the appellants' guilty pleas.

The Full Court considered the grounds for interfering with a sentence, which include it being manifestly excessive or inadequate. In this instance, the Court found that the sentences imposed were not manifestly excessive. However, the Court allowed the appeals on a minor technicality regarding the commencement date of the sentences.

Consequently, the appeals were allowed, but the sentences themselves remained unaltered, save for a slight adjustment to the commencement date, which was ordered to be 3 August 2015 instead of 4 August 2015.