A sentence of 15 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of seven-and-a-half years for importing 14.872 kilograms of pure cocaine (the largest seizure in Queensland at the time) was not manifestly excessive, even where the offender cooperated with authorities, pleaded guilty, and agreed to give evidence against a co-offender, and where the sentencing judge reduced a notional 18-year sentence to 15 years on account of that cooperation. An applicant who has abandoned a timely appeal must show good reason why they should not be bound by the abandonment. A declaration of pre-sentence custody under s 161 of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) may be made on appeal even where the substantive appeal is refused.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 2 later cases that cite this judgment.