In very unusual circumstances, a sentencing judge may exercise mercy and moderate general deterrence for commercial drug trafficking where the offender was psychologically vulnerable, exploited by the principal trafficker, received minimal benefit, and faces punitive forfeiture of property. However, the Court emphasised this decision sets no precedent for other commercial trafficking cases. The overriding discretion on Crown appeals to decline to intervene remains available even where error might be disclosed.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 7 later cases that cite this judgment.
1 of the 7 citing cases carry a classified treatment. How each court treated it is available to signed-in members.