Cooper v WA

(2020) 286 A Crim R 28; [2020] WASCA 199

Western Australia Court of Appeal

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Interrogate

Catchwords

1. Criminal Law
2. › Sentencing
3. › Appeal against sentence
4. › Historical child sex offences
5. › Whether sentencing judge applied correct maximum penalty
6. › Effect of repeal and replacement of offence provisions on statutory penalty
7. › Criminal Code (WA), s 11
8. › Sentencing Act 1995 (WA), s 10
9. › Interpretation Act 1984 (WA), s 37(1)
1. Criminal Law
2. › Sentencing
3. › Statutory construction
4. › Meaning of 'circumstances' in s 11 of Criminal Code (WA)
5. › Whether 'circumstances' confined to factual elements of offence or extends to all factual circumstances
6. › Whether age of victim a relevant 'circumstance' where not an element of repealed offence
1. Criminal Law
2. › Sentencing
3. › Totality principle
4. › Multiple offences against multiple victims
5. › Historical child sex offending in institutional setting
6. › Offender's age and ill health
7. › Whether humanitarian considerations can be accommodated
8. › Whether crushing sentence justified

Quick Take

Practitioners sentencing for repealed WA sexual offences must identify the current equivalent offence by reference to the elements of the repealed offence only (not surrounding factual circumstances), and apply the lesser of the repealed and current maximum penalties under s 10 of the Sentencing Act 1995 (WA).