For an offence to be aggravated as 'committed in company' under s 21A(2)(e) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, the offenders must share a common criminal purpose; the mere presence of another person at the scene is insufficient. A murder involving spontaneous use of a weapon, absence of intention to kill, and absence of premeditation may fall below the mid-range of objective seriousness even where the offender armed himself beforehand and initiated the violence.
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