Woods; Hayes; McLachlan; Harding; Farnsworth (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 545

• Sentence imposed for murder – referred to body of research from Bugmy Bar Book:

[254] One of the bodies of research referred to in the Bugmy Bar Book is the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Commission explained:

• “When a child is sexually abused, the effects can be devastating. For many, the impacts of the abuse last for their whole lives. When the abuse occurs in an institution and the institutional response is inadequate, victims can experience additional adverse impacts. While each person’s story is unique, for many victims the abuse has created a complex constellation of mental health symptoms and associated negative outcomes that have changed their lives profoundly. The abuse can reach into all areas of the victim’s life: mental health; interpersonal relationships; physical health; sexual identity; gender identity and sexual behaviour; connection to culture; spirituality; interactions with society; and education employment and economic security.”