R v Ming Chen
Possession of Class B drugs – intent to supply and possession of criminal property – cannabis – sentencer entitled to have regard to surrounding circumstances especially cultivation.
[2012] NICA 17 Morgan LCJ173 results
R v Aidan Grew and Hilary Patrick McLaughlin and R v Patrick Mackle, Plunkett Mackle and Benedict Mackle
Fraudulent evasion of duty contrary to section 170(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 - cigarette smuggling operations - whether trial judges erred in imposing confiscation order – appropriateness of custodial sentences for these offences.
[2011] NICA 31 Girvan LJ
R v William Brady
Social security fraud - review of sentencing decisions in this area - imposition of compensation order.
[2011] NICA 4 Girvan LJ
R v Anthony Joseph McAuley and Paul Ronan Seaward, Director of Public Prosecution’s Reference (Numbers 2 and 3 of 2010)
Section 18 OAPA 1861 - infliction of wanton violence by young males - kicking victim while on the ground - consideration of recent Sentencing Council (E&W) Consultation.
[2010] NICA 36 Morgan LCJ
Attorney General's Reference (No 8 of 2009) Christopher McCartney
In this judgment the Court of Appeal adopts the sentencing guidelines on indecent images issued by the English Court of Appeal in R v Oliver & Others [2002] EWCA Crim 2766.
AG’s Reference – 30 counts of making an indecent image of a child – sentenced to three years’ probation on each count to run concurrently with a condition to participate in a sex offenders programme – offending commenced when defendant was 15 - special circumstances advanced before the court that the defendant was corrupted as a child and his offending was the product of that corruption – court held rehabilitative sentence justified in this case – sentence not unduly lenient – appeal dismissed.
(The Court of Appeal in King v Andrew Maxwell [2023] NICA 21 has reaffirmed both these cases as the settled sentencing authorities in the area of indecent images of children.)
R v CK a minor
Appeal against sentences - minors - indecent assaults, acts of gross indecency and rape - custodial sentence - other methods of disposal especially a custody probation order - ECHR Art. 8 - sexual offences prevention order expiry date - periods of detention and one year's supervision - third and fourth conditions of the sexual offences prevention order to be deleted - second condition amended in the terms set out in this judgment - sexual offences prevention order to remain in force for the period of five years from today's date - to that extent appeal allowed.
[2009] NICA 17 Kerr LCJ
R v Alan Stewart
Offender one of three assailants - 'savage and unprovoked' attack on young man in Belfast City Centre - previous convictions showed 'propensity to random senseless violence' - victim suffering catastrophic injuries - CPO 14 years plus 1 (total: 15 years) on a contest.
[2009] NICA 4 Kerr LCJ
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
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
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.
[2008] NILST 9 Kerr LCJ
R v Damien Gibbons, Declan Stilges and David Martin Crone. AG's Ref (No 1 of 2008)
Reference by AG of sentence as unduly lenient - robbery - whether other offenders knew of intention to use knife of obvious importance to sentencing exercise – failure to cite relevant guideline authorities to sentencing judge - sentences imposed for robbery unduly lenient - quashed and substituted.
[2008] NICA 41 Kerr LCJ
R v Daniel McArdle
-Causing grievous bodily harm with intent contrary to section 18 OAPA 1861
-Protective element under article 20 of the Criminal Justice (NI) Order 1996
-Previous good character and youth to be taken into account
- Totality/proportionality
R v Jonathan Gerard Patrick Turley
First instance judgment - offender stabbing victim in course of argument - severe consequences for victim's long term physical and mental health - late plea to this and offences of intimidation of witnesses and threats to kill - CPO of 10 years plus 1 (total: 11years) (7.5 years for s. 18, 3.5 years consecutive for other offences).
[2008] NICC 18 Hart J
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.
[2008] NILST 7 Kerr LCJ
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.
[2008] NILST 6 Kerr LCJ
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.
[2008] NILST 14 Kerr LCJ
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.
[2008] NILST 11 Kerr LCJ
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.
[2008] NILST 10 Kerr LCJ
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.
[2008] NILST 2 Kerr LCJ
R v William David John McCracken
First instance sentencing remarks - making a false instrument contrary to Section 1 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 - falsification of documents required for EU and domestic compliant export of pigs - export of livestock - procedures not followed - ECHR art 6 - 2 years imprisonment suspended for 3 years.
[2007] NICC 51 Treacy J