Sentencing guidelines - Manslaughter

27 results

28 January 2025

The King v Barry Donnelly

The Court of Appeal provides guidance in respect of sentencing for manslaughter in cases of diminished responsibility at paragraphs [32] and [38] – [42]).

Appeal with leave of the single judge in respect of a nine year minimum term – manslaughter – diminished responsibility – schizophrenia – floridly psychotic – appellant negligent about taking care of his own health - possession of offensive weapons – AOABH – whether judge misjudged the appellant’s culpability leading to a manifestly excessive sentence - judge assessed culpability within the medium bracket – held to be appropriate – sentence not manifestly excessive – appeal dismissed.

[2025] NICA 7 Keegan LCJ

18 December 2024

The King v Alexander McCartney

This is a short addendum ruling correcting an error in sentencing within the main judgment reported at [2024] NICC 30 . Determinate custodial sentences were replaced with extended custodial sentences where necessary

[2024] NICC 36 O'Hara J

25 October 2024

King v Alexander McCartney

Crown Court sentencing remarks – catfishing – sextortion - manslaughter - causing or inciting girls under 13 and between the age of 13 and 16 to engage in sexual activity – blackmail – making, distributing and possessing indecent images of children – causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent - intimidation - sexual communication with a child - offending against 70 victims worldwide – harm inevitably and indisputably huge – assessed as presenting a significant risk of serious harm – victim did not prove on the balance of probabilities that he was the victim of catfishing as a child – no previous record – pleas of guilty – some limited evidence of remorse post 2019 – numerous aggravating factors outlined at para [77] - extensive and worsening offending after his first arrest in 2016 – life sentence imposed – 20 year minimum tariff imposed with concurrent sentences in respect of the remaining counts – 10 year SOPO – disqualified from working with children – disposal order in respect of 13 devices

[2024] NICC 30 O'Hara J

18 May 2017

R v Norman McKenzie

Reference by DPP under s.36 Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amended) – gross negligence manslaughter – various breaches of health & safety at work (‘H&S’) provisions – deceased falling from roof of agricultural shed – 15 months’ imprisonment suspended for 3 years – whether suspended sentence unduly lenient – immediate sentence of 24 months (12 & 12) substituted for manslaughter and concurrent sentence of 6 months for each H&S offence.

[2017] NICA 29 Gillen LJ

16 March 2016

R v Sean Ruddy

Possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property contrary to s. 3(1)(b) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 - reiteration of principles governing guilty pleas – need for counsel to correct any misapprehension on court’s part as to timing of guilty plea –recourse to be had to the ‘slip rule’ under s. 49(2) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 when appropriate – sentence left undisturbed.

[2016] NICA 17 McBride J

14 September 2015

R v Sean Hackett

Manslaughter on ground of diminished responsibility and 2 X possession of a firearm with intent – planned killing of offender’s father – impaired judgement – assessed as presenting further risk of serious harm – whether life sentence necessary – whether ICS adequately considered – whether 10 yr. tariff appropriate – whether conclusion that responsibility was relatively high correct – fresh medical evidence received on appeal establishing lower culpability – ICS with specified period of 7 years substituted for manslaughter and two with specified period of 4 for firearms convictions.

2015 NICA 57 Morgan LCJ

24 January 2014

Ryan McDowell, Attorney General's Reference (No 17 of 2013)

Making/possession of explosives – s. 3(1)(b) Explosive Substances Act 1883) – DPP’s Reference – sectarian motivation – 2 years’ probation and 100 hours’ community service – sentencing recommendation in victim impact statements not to form basis for reassessing sentencing – while deterrent custodial sentences normally required for sectarian violence the individual circumstances meant the sentence should not be interfered with.

[2014] NICA 6 Coghlin LJ

10 December 2013

R v Gareth Edward Marcus, DPP Ref (No 1 of 2013), Reference under Section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988

Possession of explosives – s. 3(1)(b) Explosive Substances Act 1883) – causing an explosion likely to endanger life or to cause injury to property – s.2 Explosive Substances Act 1883 – DPP’s Reference – sectarian motivation – need for deterrent sentencing – 4 years’ imprisonment suspended for 3 years – unduly lenient but not interfered with.

[2013] NICA 73 Coghlin LJ

18 February 2013

R v Hyde

Appeal against 3 year sentence for 48 offences (incl. firearms offences) committed from 1992 to 2007 - member of loyalist paramilitary organisation - whether there should be discount for mitigating circumstances in applicant’s personal life - whether custodial sentences should have been suspended – appeal dismissed – specific guidance on the sentencing of defendants who have assisted the Police (ss. 73-76 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005) annexed to judgment.

[2013] NICA 8 Morgan LCJ

29 September 2011

R v J Crolly

Guidance on the correct approach to sentencing for manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

[2011] NICA 58 Higgins LJ

21 December 2010

R v Eamonn Coyle

Offender pleaded guilty to manslaughter at commencement of retrial for murder (of his grandfather) - aged 16 at the time - went to grandfather's home to get money - grabbed grandfather by neck probably causing death - offender armed with knife - two puncture wounds on deceased's neck.

[2010] NICA 48 Morgan LCJ

02 December 2008

R v Paul McMillan

First instance decision - offender with lengthy history of severe alcoholism, depression and delirium tremens - consideration of English guideline cases dealing with diminished responsibility.

[2008] NICC 40 Hart J

29 September 2008

R v Mark John Rush

Deceased crossing road and deliberately striking offender - offender then striking deceased - several blows 'of moderate severity' - public location not of offender's choosing - offender a long term alcoholic with impaired ability to defend himself - facts distinguished from Quinn.

[2008] NICA 43 Coghlin LJ

09 November 2007

R v Glenn Paul Harwood

Death resulting from two stab wounds to front of chest - 'deliberate and substantial violence' - no penalty for late plea in circumstances - appropriate in certain circumstances to go outside the range of 8 to 15 years on contest for cases falling outside upper range of gravity identified in Magee - 13 years not excessive on a plea.

[2007] NICA 49 Higgins LJ

15 June 2007

R v Stephen Magee

Application for leave to appeal against a sentence imposed at Newry Crown Court in 2005 - whether sentence manifestly excessive - manslaughter - 9 years imprisonment and 3 years probation - whether provocation or self defence - alcohol and drug misuse - guidance on sentence after a not guilty plea - guidance on aggravating factors - application for leave to appeal dismissed.

[2007] NICA 21 Kerr LCJ

02 June 2006

R v Ryan Quinn

Death resulting from single unprovoked blow. Need for deterrent sentences. Starting point should be higher in NI than in England. Starting point of 2 years, rising to 6 depending on aggravating circumstances.

[2006] NICA 27 Kerr LCJ

10 March 2006

R v Gerald Patrick Donnell

Manslaughter - GBH with intent - drunkenness and mitigation.

[2006] NICA 8 Shiel LJ

24 February 2006

Gary McDonald, John Keith McDonald and Stephen Gary Maternaghan, Attorney General's Reference (Number 1 of 2006) (AG REF 11-13 of 2005)

Guilty pleas - need to plead at earliest opportunity.

[2006] NICA 4 Kerr LCJ

27 October 2005

R v Charles Malachy Oliver Pollock

Death of constable struck by car attempting to avoid police stinger device after a chase. Aggravation and mitigation - effect of lack of intention. 12 year sentence not unreasonable - Also statement that there should be less discount for a plea of guilty caught red handed.

[2005] NICA 43 Kerr LCJ

11 February 2005

R v George Angus McKenzie

Possessing a weapon designed to discharge a noxious liquid gas or thing, contrary to Section 6(1)(b) of Firearms (NI) Order 1981 (as amended) - questions to ask when considering appropriate disposal of firearms offences - suspended sentence - R v. Avis and Others [1998] 1 Cr App R applied.

[2005] NICA 7 Nicholson LJ