Section 19A — Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)

(1) A person who commits the crime of murder is liable to imprisonment for life.
(2) A person sentenced to imprisonment for life for the crime of murder is to serve that sentence for the term of the person’s natural life.
(3) Nothing in this section affects the operation of section 21 (1) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (which authorises the passing of a lesser sentence than imprisonment for life).
(4) This section applies to murder committed before or after the commencement of this section.
(5) However, this section does not apply where committal proceedings (or proceedings by way of ex officio indictment) for the murder were instituted against the convicted person before the commencement of this section. In such a case, section 19 as in force before that commencement continues to apply.
(6) Nothing in this section affects the prerogative of mercy.

Related sections

• s 16 — Nothing herein to affect 25 Ed III, c 2
• s 17A — Date of death
• s 18 — Murder and manslaughter defined
• s 19B — Mandatory life sentences for murder of police officers
• s 20 — Child murder—when child deemed born alive
• s 21 — Child murder by mother—verdict of contributing to death etc

Research how courts apply s 19A

BriefBridge searches NSW and High Court caselaw by meaning — every answer cited to the paragraph.