A sentence of 10 years' imprisonment for deliberately driving a car at a police officer causing catastrophic injuries is within the proper exercise of the sentencing discretion, particularly where comparable cases involving 10-year sentences for attempts to injure police (without actual injury) reinforce the sentence a fortiori. The 2016 amendment to s 9 of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld) inserting s 9(2A) requires that pre-amendment comparable cases for violent offences be examined carefully to determine whether they remain apposite, though the full effect of the amendment on sentencing ranges was left for a future case.
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