Sentencing guidelines - Life Sentences – Tariff Rulings

10 November 2023

R v Laurence Creaney

The Court of Appeal sets out and endorses the legal principles and guidance contained in R v Tolera [1999] 1 Cr App R 29 and R v Underwood & Others [2005] 1 Cr App R 13 in respect of the interrelated considerations of pleas, basis of pleas and Newton hearings.

Renewed application for leave to appeal a sentence of three years imprisonment – arson – whether sentence manifestly excessive –whether the judge erred in rejecting the coercion claim – disparity – whether a non-custodial sentence should have been imposed – leave refused – sentence affirmed.

16 March 2023

King v Nathan Phair and King v Padraig Toher

In this judgment the Court of Appeal provides guidance on the credit to be given for a late guilty plea where upon arraignment further evidence is outstanding.

Toher - Renewed application for leave to appeal a sentence of 12 years imprisonment - manslaughter – GBI by dangerous driving x 2 – doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice – conspiracy to possess a class A drug (cocaine) – whether the judge’s end point before reduction for the plea of guilty was manifestly excessive – whether the judge was wrong in principle to impose a sentence of four years for the drug offence and three years for perverting the course of justice – whether the judge provided sufficient reduction for the guilty plea – leave granted – appeal allowed - sentence reduced to 11 years to reflect the early guilty plea and remorse – driving disqualification of 10 years untouched

Phair - application to appeal a sentence of 11 years imprisonment and 15 year driving disqualification with leave of the single judge as to starting point – causing death by dangerous driving – causing GBI by dangerous driving – causing death by driving whilst unlicenced and uninsured – causing GBI by driving whilst unlicenced and uninsured – supplying a class A drug (cocaine) – whether the starting point of 13 years before mitigation was manifestly excessive – whether the court provided enough by way of mitigation - whether the drug offence was over sentenced – whether the 15 year driving disqualification was excessive – appeal dismissed save the period of disqualification reduced to 10 years.

18 May 2022

R v Maughan (Appellant) (Northern Ireland)

This is a judgment given by Sir Declan Morgan in the Supreme Court which reaffirms the different approach in this jurisdiction (from E&W and Scotland) to the question of the reduction for a guilty plea in circumstances where the offender has essentially been apprehended in flagrante.

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.

17 May 2013

R v Gary McKeown; DPP Ref (No 2 of 2013) and R v Han Lin

Appeal against sentence and DPP's Reference - review of authorities on supply and production of drugs - consideration of definitive guideline from England & Wales - guideline deemed useful for aggravating and mitigating factors and serious/culpability - less applicable however in this jurisdiction on starting points and ranges where flexibility required - different approach needed for very large quantities - R v. McIlwaine [1998] NICA reaffirmed in this regard.

17 May 2013

Queen v Gary McKeown, Director of Public Prosecution’s Reference (Number 2 of 2013), The Queen v Han Lin

16 December 2011

R v James John Stewart Caswell

Causing grievous bodily injury by dangerous driving – need for sentencing court to establish factual basis of plea – proper approach to use of Guidelines – culpability rarely judged by consequence being serious injury rather than death.

22 September 2008

R v James Junior McKinstry Craig

Murder - 13 year old female victim - extensive injuries - concealed body - body found 5 years later - no acknowledgment of guilt - no account of what he did - higher starting point - tariff fixed at 21 years.

03 September 2008

R v John Smith

Murder - multiple stabbing - 19 year old male victim - denied involvement under interview - admitted stabbing but not murder at trial - defence of diminished responsibility not accepted by jury - armed himself with knife - higher starting point - self-restraint may have been lowered by consumption of drugs and alcohol - tariff fixed at 16 years.

17 July 2008

R v Christopher McMillan

Murder - robbery - extensive injuries - 46 year old male victim - very serious case - use of weapon - attempt to hide body - scant evidence of remorse - denied involvement under interview - bragged to friends - tariff fixed at 17 years.

26 May 2008

R v Nicholas Evans

Murder - 17 year old male victim - terrorist crime - victim targeted because of religion - foreknowledge of intention to kill - use of a knife - previous record - very serious case - scant evidence of genuine remorse - asserted innocence throughout trial - tariff fixed at 20 years.

19 May 2008

R v William Murphy

Murder - 78 year old male victim - extensive and multiple injuries - burglary - higher starting point - left victim to die - denied guilt - tariff fixed at 17 years.

19 May 2008

R v William Campbell

Murder - 54 year old male victim - beaten to death - shocking, extensive and multiple injuries were inflicted - higher starting point - attempted to avoid responsibility - victim's family deprived of any insight - no genuine remorse - tariff fixed at 17 years.

01 April 2008

R v Victor Graham

Two Murders - confessions to police - refusal to answer questions in main trial as to truth of statements - politically motivated terrorist crimes - planned - use of firearms - vulnerable and defenceless victims - appeal on the basis of inadmissibility of confessions dismissed - higher starting point - very serious case - assessment by Sentence Review Commissioners - tariff fixed at 22 years.

01 April 2008

R v Andrew Neville Browne

Terrorist murder - male victim - higher starting point - identified victim as a target - planned and organised the murder - no true remorse for crime - tariff fixed at 20 years.

06 March 2008

R v Stephen Geoffrey Irwin

Multiple counts of terrorist murder - firearms used - politically motivated - targeted because of religion - meticulously planned - ruthlessly executed assassinations - professional killings - higher starting point - plea of guilty - no compelling evidence of remorse - tariff fixed at 30 years.

04 March 2008

R v William Sloan

Murder - 39 year old male victim - course of a burglary - sustained and vicious attack - higher starting point - attack planned - relevant criminal record - expressed remorse, though not at trial - tariff fixed at 19 years.

27 February 2008

R v Trevor James Leslie McKeown

Murder - 18 year old female victim - terrorist crime - politically motivated - targeted because of religion - killing was planned - firearm used - appalling record - very serious case - tariff fixed at 22 years.

24 January 2008

R v John Kerr

Murder - multiple stabbing - several weapons used - intoxicated 21 year old female victim - offender lying under interview and at trial - degree of premeditation - higher starting point - stated remorse to be treated with caution - tariff fixed at 16 years.

23 January 2008

R v Robert William Molyneaux

Terrorist murders of two men - killed because of religion - planned to some extent - firearms used - higher starting point - terrorist murders, victims; one victim killed partly to prevent his giving information - plea of guilty - suggestion of remorse - tariff fixed at 18 years.