In R v DCD; Ex parte Attorney-General (Qld) [2024] QCA 91, the Court of Appeal in Queensland dealt with the Attorney-General's appeal against the sentence imposed on DCD, a youth offender. DCD had pleaded guilty to a series of serious crimes: one count of sexual assault, four counts of rape, and one count of robbery with personal violence. He was sentenced to four years and six months in detention for the count of rape, with lesser concurrent sentences for the other charges. Despite the gravity of the offences, the sentencing judge did not record any convictions, citing factors such as DCD's age, lack of previous sexual offences, and the anticipated impact of a recorded conviction on his rehabilitation and employment prospects. The Attorney-General appealed, arguing the sentence was manifestly inadequate due to the failure to record convictions. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the lower court's decision that the judge had appropriately balanced the competing considerations, including the serious nature of the offences and the importance of rehabilitation for youth offenders.
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