The sentencing range of four to seven years established in Mangelsdorf for street-level drug trafficking in controlled substances remains the appropriate starting point in South Australia. Addiction and personal trauma, while relevant mitigating factors, do not justify radical departures from the established range because general deterrence would be undermined if sentences were routinely mitigated for addiction. Where a second trafficking offence is committed on bail, cumulative sentences are ordinarily expected with only modest concurrency. A non-parole period of less than 50 per cent of the head sentence is unusually lenient and requires strong justification. Nicholson J has reserved his position on the continued appropriateness of the Mangelsdorf range.
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