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Hettige for the Respondent \par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11540874 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 JUDGMENT \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11540874 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par The appellant pleaded not guilty to an offence of }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 Attempted Rape}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 .}{ \b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 The trial was a short one in which the prosecution called 4 witnesses and tendered the appellant's caution interview and charge statement.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874 }{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 The appellant then made an unsworn statement declaring his innocence and implicating another youth in the crime. \par \par In a judgment which is a }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 hallmark}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 of the particular magistrate, the appellant was summarily convicted in the following two sentences}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx-1440\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid3370891 {\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}"There is over-whelming evidence against this accused.}{ \i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 The identification by P.W.2 is positive.}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 The confession was made to both P.W.3 and P.W.4.}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{ \i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 I find prosecution has proved its case beyond any doubt whatsoever.}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{ \i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 I find the accused guilty of the charge and convict him accordingly."}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11540874 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par Thereafter the appellant was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. \par \par He now appeals against the sentence on the ground that it is harsh and excessive in all the circumstances of the case. \par \par The prosecution's case was that on the day in question the victim (}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 who was not called in the trial}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 ) was dragged by the appellant to a track beside a public road where he punched her and forcibly removed her top but was disturbed before he could progress any further. \par \par Under caution the appellant admitted that he dragged the complainant to a track because he wanted to have intercourse with her.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 He also admitted punching the complainant on her forehead when she refused and presumably resisted. \par \par It is clear that on the appellant's own admission he had the necessary unlawful intent but an intent alone does not amount to }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 an attempt}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 to commit a crime.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 In addition, some overt physical act is required which manifests the intention to commit an offence.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 The answer must necessarily be a matter of both fact and degree. \par \par In the particular circumstances of this case there was no evidence that the victim's panties had been removed nor was there any evidence that the appellant was in such a state of undress or so-positioned on the victim as to be able to penetrate her. \par \par In fact the police investigation and the prosecution's evidence appears to have been directed principally at proving the absence of consent on the part of the victim and not another essential ingredient of rape namely, }{ \i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 carnal knowledge}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 or }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 penetration}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 . \par \par At it's highest the prosecution's evidence of }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 "overt acts"}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 in this case may be fairly summed-up as follows}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid3370891 {\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 The appellant with the requisite intent had pulled the victim to a relatively isolated area where he had assaulted her and removed her top.}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{ \i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 He was also seen lying on the ground with her and holding onto her whilst she was screaming. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11540874 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid13530089 \par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 Learned State Counsel submits that viewed collectively these }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 '}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 overt acts' do indeed manifest the appellant's confessed unlawful intention and although it is acknowledged he could have done more, nevertheless, they were sufficient to support the trial magistrate's finding. \par \par With that submission this court reluctantly agrees. \par \par As for his appeal against sentence the appellant submits that he is just 19 years of age and although this is not his first time in prison it is the first time for him to receive such a lengthy sentence.}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 He asks for leniency and a suspended sentence so as to enable him to return to his village and care for his aged parents. \par \par Having considered the facts of this case I am of the view that for sentencing purposes it should have been treated as an }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 aggravated indecent assault}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 for which the appropriate sentence would have been one of 9 months imprisonment.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874\charrsid11540874 }{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 Viewed in that light the present sentence is excessive. \par \par Accordingly the sentence is reduced to }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 9 months imprisonment}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 with effect from the }{ \i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 14th of September, 1990}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 . \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11540874 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 (D.V. Fatiaki) \par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 JUDGE \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11540874 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par At Suva,}{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 11th January, 1991. \par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11540874 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14357786 HA}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874 A}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14357786 00}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874 96}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14357786 .}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid11540874 90}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid14357786 S}{ \f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3684423\charrsid11540874 \par }}