The totality principle requires that where individual sentences for multiple sexual assault offences are imposed at or near the top of the range, full accumulation of sentences for offences against a second victim may produce a manifestly excessive aggregate. The number of co-offenders in a group sexual assault is relevant to the assessment of seriousness even where the circumstance of aggravation under s 61J(1) is that the offence was committed in company. Youth of a young adult offender may properly be given limited weight in fixing head sentences for serious offences of violence, with greater weight given to youth in determining non-parole periods.
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