Pearce v R [2026] NSWCCA 138

Pearce v R [2026] NSWCCA 138 concerned appeals against Pearce’s conviction for aiding or abetting an attempt to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported cocaine, and his six-year, three-month sentence. He acted as a spotter in a sophisticated importation operation. The principal conviction issue was whether the circumstantial evidence, considered collectively, permitted the jury to find beyond reasonable doubt that he believed he was assisting a drug offence. The Court held that it did. His parity challenge also failed: differences between the co-offenders’ roles, plea discounts, criminal histories and personal circumstances justified their different sentences. Leave was granted for both appeals, but each was dismissed.