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\f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 2 OF 1991
\par 
\par Between:
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 LEMEKI DUIDOMO}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7545461\charrsid7545461 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 Appellant
\par 
\par v.
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 THE STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7545461\charrsid7545461 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7545461 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
\par Appellant in Person
\par Mr. J. Prakash for the Respondent
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7545461 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7545461 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 The appellant who was the third accused was jointly charged with 2 others for an offence of }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
Assault With Intent to Rob}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 .}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7545461  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
He pleaded guilty and upon his conviction was sentenced to }{\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 9 months imprisonment}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 .
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
\par The facts of the case are that the appellant and his compatriots approached a night watchman of the }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 J.S. Hill}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
 premises in Lami and asked him for a roll of cigarette {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}and then demanded money from him whilst threatening him with a hacksaw blade.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7545461  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 The watchman yelled out and his head was forced against a concrete post opening a 6 cm long cut on his forehead which bled profusely.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7545461  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 The assailants left him and ran off when they were disturbed by another security officer approaching the scene.
\par 
\par The appellant appeals against both his conviction and sentence on several grounds which may be simplified into two, }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 namely}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 , that he did not commit the offence and that the sentence is disparate, harsh and excessive.
\par 
\par As to his conviction the appellant pleaded guilty to the offence after it had been read and explained to him presumably in a language that he understood.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7545461  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 He also admitted the }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 "blanket facts"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
 outlined by the police prosecutor without attempting in anyway to distinguish his role in the incident from that of his co-accused.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7545461  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
Furthermore in mitigation he is recorded as having asked for forgiveness and leniency!
\par 
\par If I may say so an }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 "innocent man"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
 is hardly likely to ask for forgiveness or leniency for an offence that he did not commit }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 or}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
 did not in any event believe he had committed.
\par 
\par Nothing has been placed before this Court which would cast doubt on the voluntariness or equivocality of the appellant's plea of guilty and in the circumstances his appeal against conviction is dismissed.
\par 
\par The sentence of 9 months imprisonment although different in its immediacy from the suspended sentence imposed on one of the appellant's co-accused is easily attributed to the differences in their past records and ages.
\par 
\par This was a gratuitous attack on an innocent helpless man who was merely minding his business and which caused him a serious head injury which required stitches.
\par 
\par The appeal against sentence is also dismissed as being totally without merit.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7545461 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 JUDGE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7545461 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5774668\charrsid7545461 
\par At Suva,
\par 22nd February, 1991.
\par }}