Where a co-offender is subsequently sentenced to a lower effective sentence for the same counts, the parity principle may require reduction of the earlier sentence even where that sentence was within range when imposed, provided the disparity is manifestly excessive. The utilitarian value of a guilty plea is not affected by the strength of the Crown case, but the strength of the case may bear on the extent of remorse and thereby affect the discount. The making of admissions that facilitate the course of justice ordinarily provides a separate basis for discounting a sentence in addition to the guilty plea discount, and cannot be used to reduce the plea discount. The Court signalled that current median sentences for large commercial drug offences may be inadequate.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 6 later cases that cite this judgment.
1 of the 6 citing cases carry a classified treatment. How each court treated it is available to signed-in members.