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\f38\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Criminal Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 83 OF 1989
\par 
\par Between:
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 MOSESE NATALE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15882945\charrsid15882945 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 Appellant
\par 
\par v.
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15882945\charrsid15882945 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15882945 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 
\par Mr. V. Parmanandam for the Appellant
\par Mr. J. Naigulevu for the Respondent
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15882945 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 JUDGMENT
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\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 On the 5th of June, 1989 t
he appellant was granted bail pending the hearing and determination of his appeal against a sentence of 3 years imprisonment imposed by the Magistrate Court, Navua on the 24th of May, 1989 after the appellant had been convicted on his guilty plea to an of
fence of }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 Act With Intent to Cause Grievous Harm}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 .
\par 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 
The facts that were admitted by the appellant were that on the day in question he assaulted his wife with an umbrella and a kitchen knife causing injuries to her head and upper arm which required suturing.
\par 
\par In sentencing the appellant the learned magistrate passed a deterrent sentence without making any allowance for mitigating factors.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15882945  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 
After canvassing the facts and the appellant's record of previous convicti}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15882945 ons the learned magistrate said}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 : 
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15882945 {\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 "The law and th
e judicial system is available to both the sexes, it must be allowed to protect therefore to protect this woman victim.}{\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15882945  }{\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 
It is my humble view that in passing sentence with this perspective in mind it might discourage others from committing similar offences - otherwise for some wives the price to pay for the sake of family unity will always be too high. "}{
\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15882945 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 
\par Learned counsel for the appellant objected to the above-quoted statement as "gratuitous" and unsupported by any statistical evidence of prevalence or by the particular circumstances of the complainant.
\par 
\par For instance, there is no history of similar assaults on the complainant by the appellant, and although the appellant's record of most recent convictions does indicate a propensity to violence his correspondi
ng sentences also indicate that the appellant responds positively to a non-immediately custodial sentence such as a suspended sentence or to being bound over.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15882945\charrsid15882945  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 He has also been out of trouble for the past 5 years and should be encouraged.
\par 
\par Learned counsel for the appellant also pointed out that the appellant has already served 2 weeks of his sentence; has reconciled according to Fijian tradition with the complainant and they are now both practising Christians.
\par 
\par Furthermore the appellant and his wife continued to live together after the incident and ever since he was released on bail pending the hearing of his appeal without further incident.
\par 
\par It is unfortunate that this appeal was only heard 10 months after the appellant was released on bail and over that period of time the appellant must have nu}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15882945 r}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 tured the expectation that he would not be returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
\par 
\par Nevertheless this court would have little hesitation in appropriate cases in returning an unsuccessful appellant to prison to serve the unexpired portion of his sentence.
\par 
\par However having carefully considered all the circumstances of this case and whilst sympathising with the sentiments expressed by the trial magistrate and accepting that a custodial sentence was merit
ed, I do not consider this an appropriate case to return the appellant to prison.
\par 
\par Learned State Counsel in opposing the appeal conceded that the sentence was excessive and with that I agree.
\par 
\par The appeal is accordingly allowed.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15882945\charrsid15882945  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1463743\charrsid15882945 The sentence is quashed and 
in substitution therefor a sentence of 12 months imprisonment is imposed but in the light of the various mitigating factors urged on behalf of the appellant the sentence is suspended for a period of 3 years with effect from the 24th of May 1989.
\par 
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\par At Suva,
\par 25th May, 1990.
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