The principles in Pearce v The Queen regarding the structuring of sentences for multiple offences are binding and authoritative, not optional sentencing advice, and sentencing judges must give particular and careful consideration to their application. Crown Prosecutors are obliged to be aware of and correctly apply Pearce principles when assisting sentencing courts. Where the Crown acquiesces at first instance in a course that is later challenged on appeal, this constrains but does not preclude appellate intervention, and the weight of the acquiescence depends on the circumstances.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 5 later cases that cite this judgment.
3 of the 5 citing cases carry a classified treatment. How each court treated it is available to signed-in members.