She called that a \u201ccrushing result\u201d disproportionate to the offending.<\/p>\n
A total sentence of 74 months to 78 months rather than 98 was suitable, McEntee said.<\/p>\n
She said Judge Kathryn Maxwell at the Auckland District Court should have given Coupe a bigger discount.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe starting point for the June 6th, 2025, sentencing is contended \u2026 starting points adopted by Her Honour Judge Maxwell were too high.\u201d <\/p>\n
McEntee said similar offenders in similar circumstances had not been punished so severely.<\/p>\n
She said the judge in one fraud case involving concealment of $277,709.22 adopted a starting point of seven months.<\/p>\n
In another involving a fraud worth $100,030.57, a starting point of 18 months was adopted, McEntee said.<\/p>\n
She said that case involved \u201cconniving behaviour\u201d where a criminal was \u201cpreying on members of the public and lying even when giving evidence at his jury trial\u201d.<\/p>\n
McEntee said Coupe\u2019s sentence had the effect of being crushing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe uplift for personal aggravating factor amounts to 25% of the total starting point for all charges. This is too high and disproportionate.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said three to five months would be more appropriate.<\/p>\n
McEntee said aggravating factors were Coupe\u2019s prior convictions, offending while subject to bail, and offending in breach of bail conditions.<\/p>\n
Psychological issues were also raised.<\/p>\n
McEntee said Judge Maxwell was not in receipt of Coupe\u2019s mental health problems but, if she had been, could have viewed them as mitigating factors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy was this information not available at the sentencing?\u201d Justice Gardiner asked.<\/p>\n
McEntee said Coupe self-represented at an earlier case and did not provide his defence lawyers with psychological details before the sentencing in June.<\/p>\n
They included depressive disorder, suicidal ideations and reduced concentration, McEntee said.<\/p>\n
She said Coupe also reported experiencing \u201cparanoia, anxiety and dissociation from himself and his environment\u201d.<\/p>\n
Aaron Coupe. Photo \/ File<\/p>\n
For the Crown, David Wiseman said Coupe\u2019s offending<\/a> was \u201cthe most severe that has ever come before the courts\u201d.<\/p>\n One of Coupe\u2019s victims paid $1.7m for building work that was incomplete.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unprecedented \u2026 the most egregious case of financial mismanagement the court has ever seen.”<\/p>\n Wiseman said victims experienced terrible financial and emotional damage from Coupe\u2019s offending.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s a stern sentence, but it\u2019s clearly within range.\u201d<\/p>\n Wiseman said an extreme sense of entitlement motivated Coupe\u2019s offending.<\/p>\n He said the psychological issues belatedly mentioned made no meaningful difference.<\/p>\n \u201cThat he chose not to bring it to the attention of his lawyers in this matter is neither here nor there \u2026 substantively it doesn\u2019t shift the dial.\u201d<\/p>\n Coupe has since 2013 engaged in property and insolvency offending.<\/p>\n Judge Gardiner reserved her decision, meaning she will hand it down at a later date.<\/p>\n