The extent of prosecution investigation and preparation expenditure is irrelevant to the assessment of the utilitarian value of an early guilty plea, following R v Castles. A sentencing judge must not independently set a non-parole period and then extend the balance term beyond one-third; the approach in R v Way requires the steps to be taken simultaneously. However, identified sentencing errors will not result in resentencing where the Court cannot form the opinion that a less severe sentence should have been passed under s 6(3) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1912.
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