R v Goodwin CA62/06

In the Court of Appeal of New Zealand, the case of CA62/06 The Queen v Leo Darin Goodwin involves an appeal against both conviction and sentence. Goodwin was convicted in the District Court at Hamilton on charges of abduction for sexual intercourse, sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, and threatening to kill. He appealed both his conviction and the sentence imposed by Justice Cooper. Goodwin was sentenced to preventive detention with a minimum period of imprisonment of nine years on the charge of sexual violation, five years imprisonment on the abduction charge, and two years imprisonment on the threatening to kill charge.

The appeal against conviction was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The appellant raised several issues, including the trial judge's failure to correct a prosecutorial error regarding DNA evidence, the admissibility of certain evidence, and the judge's use of the complainant's christian name. The Court of Appeal found that none of these issues led to a miscarriage of justice, and the appeal against conviction was dismissed.

The appeal against sentence was also dismissed. Goodwin argued that the sentence of preventive detention was inappropriate and that the minimum period of imprisonment was manifestly excessive. The Court of Appeal found that there was ample evidence to justify a sentence of preventive detention and that the sentence imposed was within the judge's discretion. The appellant's previous convictions, the likelihood of re-offending, and the seriousness of the harm to the community were all considered in the sentencing decision. Therefore, the appeal against sentence was dismissed.