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\f36\fs24\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
\par At Suva
\par Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
\par CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 100 OF 1990
\par 
\par Between}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 ANANT RAM
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 s/o Chet Ram
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845 Appellant
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
\par v.
\par 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 THE STATE}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5308845 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
\par Appellant in Person
\par Mr. S. Hettige for the Respondent
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5308845 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5308845 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 The appellant pleaded guilty to an offence of }{\b\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 Act with Intent to Cause Gr}{
\b\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15868241 i}{\b\i\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 evous Harm}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on the }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 24th of September, 1990}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 .
\par 
\par He now appeals against the sentence on the ground that it is harsh and excessive and urges numerous personal matters in mitigation that were not placed before the learned trial magistrate.
\par 
\par {\*\bkmkstart QuickMark}{\*\bkmkend QuickMark}The facts outlined by the police prosecutor and admitted by the appellant are fairly short and bears repeating.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845  }{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 They were}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845 :}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx-1440\faauto\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid5308845 {\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 "On the 27.3.90 at 8.30 p.m. the accused was swearing at his wife.}{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845  }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 The complainant who is the brother of wife of accused came and told accused not to swear.}{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845  }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 Accused challenged the complainant.}{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845  }{
\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 Both went out to the park where accused had a paper cutter and cut complainant on the chest."
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5308845 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
\par }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 The medical report which was tendered in the lower court disclosed multiple lacerated wounds numbering 6 of varying lengths and depths to the complainant's chest and thigh.}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 Fortunately however none were of a life-threatening nature nor were any major organs or blood vessels adversely affec
ted.
\par 
\par In mitigation the appellant is recorded as having said: "I have a lot of family problems.}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 Ask for leniency".
\par 
\par At the hearing of the appeal the appellant who is 30 years of age reiterated that he was having family problems at the time and although he is not a first offender this is undoubtedly his first experience of prison life.}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845  }{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
He professes to have learnt a salutary lesson from the 3 1/2 months he has already spent in prison and he pleads for mercy.
\par 
\par Whilst the attack on a person with a sharp instrument is always viewed with seriousness, the particular circumstances of this case are not completely devoid of }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 "provocation"}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845  }{\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 nor}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
 does it appear as if the learned trial magistrate had directed his mind to the appellant's guilty plea.
\par 
\par In all the circumstances this court is able to show the appellant some leniency by ordering his release from prison on a sentence of }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 12 months}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845  }{\i\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 imprisonment suspended for 2 years}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
 with effect from the date hereof.
\par 
\par The appellant is warned that if he commits an imprisonable offence within the next 2 years then he will be required to serve this sentence of 12 months imprisonment along with any other sentence that may be imposed on him for his re-offending.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tqc\tx3969\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5308845 {\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 (D.V. Fatiaki)
\par }{\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5308845 {\b\f0\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 
\par }{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047\charrsid5308845 At Suva,
\par 11th January, 1991.}{\b\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid7700047 
\par }\pard \qr \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5308845 {\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13196117 HA}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845 A100.90}{\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid13196117 S}{
\f0\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid5308845\charrsid5308845 
\par }}