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{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Criminal Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 
\par CRIMINAL CASE NO. 32 OF 1990
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx-1440\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3040442 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 THE STATE
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442 v.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 ROPATE BAISAGALE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid938113 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid938113\charrsid3040442 MURDER:}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid938113\charrsid3040442  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid938113\charrsid7212173 Contrary to Section 199/200}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid8018348\charrsid7212173 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid938113\charrsid7212173 of the Penal Code Cap. 17}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid7212173 
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3040442 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 SENTENCE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid938113 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 The accused has been convicted of the }{\b\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 Manslaughter}{
\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 of 2 persons.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442\charrsid3040442  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 This is an offence for which our law has provided a maximum sentence of }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 life imprisonment}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 .
\par 
\par The unlawful killing of a human being is clearly a serious matter but the law and the courts in its collective wisdom also recognises that death may result in an 
almost infinite variety of circumstances and the only sure and certain guide for a court faced with the difficult and necessary duty of passing sentence is to be guided by the facts in each case with due regard to the personal circumstances of the offende
r.
\par 
\par Furthermore in every offence committed there are mitigating as well aggravating factors to be taken into account and weighed in the balance.
\par 
\par In this case the court has found that the accused Ropate Baisagale unlawfully killed Peniasi Yasawa and Metuise
la Waqa in the early hours of the morning of the 26th of April 1990 whilst acting under severe provocation that extended over several hours and in which the accused was taken advantage of, badly treated, and finally robbed and beaten senseless by ungratef
ul persons who have been described as belonging to the "criminal element" in our society.
\par 
\par And perhaps understandably there may even be a widespread unspoken feeling that the accused should not be punished instead he should be rewarded for his `services' in
 ridding our society of 2 known criminals, but such a view would be completely misguided, dangerous and wrong.
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 The law exists to protect everyone equally, those who enact it, those who enforce it and even those who have broken it and no one is permitted t
o take the law into his own hands and act as victim, prosecutor, judge and executioner much less will the law countenance the unlawful taking of a human life in those circumstances.
\par 
\par Then counsel submits that no special account should be taken of the weapon used.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442\charrsid3040442  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 Put simply:}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442\charrsid3040442  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 "it was available and he used it".}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442\charrsid3040442  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 But whilst that may be so the use of any weapon is an aggravating factor and this Court would be naive to accept that a }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 caneknife}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442  bears any similarity to an }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 
M-16 semi-automatic assault rifle}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 .
\par 
\par This country has been fortunate in that, unlike some other countries, firearms are not readily or widely available nor do they figure as regularly in the commission of offences and every effort must be made by the authorities}{
\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 concerned to ensure that this remains the rule.
\par 
\par I have carefully considered the evidence called on behalf of the accused and although there can be no denying that the accused is an exemplary soldier with an enviable record of service it must be a matter of grave public concern that he was abl
e to retain or keep the rifle and more than }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 50 rounds}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442  of live ammunition in his home.
\par 
\par In all the circumstances of the case the most lenient sentence that this Court can pass is one of }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 6 years imprisonment}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442  on each count both sentences to be served concurrently, and mindful that the accused has been in custody for almost a year the sentences are hereby ordered to take effect from the }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 26th of April, 1990}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid3040442 .
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3040442 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 JUDGE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid938113 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582\charrsid938113 
\par At Suva,
\par 21st March, 1991.}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid1930582 
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3040442 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9843140 HA}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442 C}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9843140 00}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442 32}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9843140 .}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442 90}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid9843140 S}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3040442\charrsid3040442 
\par }}