{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}
{\f2\fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1{\*\panose 02070309020205020404}Courier New;}{\f3\froman\fcharset2\fprq2{\*\panose 05050102010706020507}Symbol;}{\f10\fnil\fcharset2\fprq2{\*\panose 05000000000000000000}Wingdings;}
{\f68\froman\fcharset0\fprq0{\*\panose 00000000000000000000}Times New Roman Bold;}{\f71\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;}{\f72\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\f74\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}
{\f75\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\f76\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);}{\f77\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);}{\f78\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}
{\f79\froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}{\f91\fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 Courier New CE;}{\f92\fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 Courier New Cyr;}{\f94\fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 Courier New Greek;}
{\f95\fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 Courier New Tur;}{\f96\fmodern\fcharset177\fprq1 Courier New (Hebrew);}{\f97\fmodern\fcharset178\fprq1 Courier New (Arabic);}{\f98\fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 Courier New Baltic;}
{\f99\fmodern\fcharset163\fprq1 Courier New (Vietnamese);}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;
\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0;\red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0;\red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;}{\stylesheet{
\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \snext0 \styrsid10027726 Normal;}{\*\cs10 \additive \ssemihidden Default Paragraph Font;}{\*
\ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\tscellwidthfts0\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv 
\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1024\langfe1024\cgrid\langnp1024\langfenp1024 \snext11 \ssemihidden Normal Table;}{\s15\ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext15 \styrsid10027726 List Paragraph;}{\s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4680\tqr\tx9360\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext16 \slink17 \styrsid10027726 header;}{\*\cs17 \additive \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \sbasedon10 \slink16 \slocked \styrsid10027726  Char Char1;}}
{\*\latentstyles\lsdstimax156\lsdlockeddef0}{\*\listtable{\list\listtemplateid921455060\listhybrid{\listlevel\levelnfc0\levelnfcn0\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid-571863486
\'02\'00.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fbias0 \fi-360\li360\lin360 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713\'02\'01.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li1080\lin1080 }
{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'02.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-180\li1800\lin1800 }{\listlevel\levelnfc0\levelnfcn0\leveljc0\leveljcn0
\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698703\'02\'03.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li2520\lin2520 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0
{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713\'02\'04.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li3240\lin3240 }{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'05.;}{\levelnumbers
\'01;}\fi-180\li3960\lin3960 }{\listlevel\levelnfc0\levelnfcn0\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698703\'02\'06.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li4680\lin4680 }{\listlevel\levelnfc4\levelnfcn4
\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698713\'02\'07.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-360\li5400\lin5400 }{\listlevel\levelnfc2\levelnfcn2\leveljc2\leveljcn2\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0
\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698715\'02\'08.;}{\levelnumbers\'01;}\fi-180\li6120\lin6120 }{\listname ;}\listid1393230255}{\list\listtemplateid2084182690\listhybrid{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0
\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698689\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li720\lin720 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext
\leveltemplateid67698691\'01o;}{\levelnumbers;}\f2\fbias0 \fi-360\li1440\lin1440 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698693\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}
\f10\fbias0 \fi-360\li2160\lin2160 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698689\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li2880\lin2880 }{\listlevel
\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698691\'01o;}{\levelnumbers;}\f2\fbias0 \fi-360\li3600\lin3600 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0
\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698693\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f10\fbias0 \fi-360\li4320\lin4320 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0
{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698689\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li5040\lin5040 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698691
\'01o;}{\levelnumbers;}\f2\fbias0 \fi-360\li5760\lin5760 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698693\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f10\fbias0 
\fi-360\li6480\lin6480 }{\listname ;}\listid1509976272}}{\*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid1393230255\listoverridecount0\ls1}{\listoverride\listid1509976272\listoverridecount0\ls2}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid811014\rsid862776\rsid1972231\rsid3176464
\rsid4331392\rsid4855016\rsid4931203\rsid4983721\rsid5062183\rsid5123780\rsid5592493\rsid6060947\rsid6782860\rsid7958375\rsid8524331\rsid9776131\rsid10027726\rsid11355540\rsid11880640\rsid11928628\rsid12081942\rsid12921552\rsid12983114\rsid14055906
\rsid14510136\rsid15297671\rsid15405516\rsid16597937}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.5604;}{\info{\title IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{\author Ruddley_E}{\operator Ruddley_E}{\creatim\yr2010\mo2\dy4\hr14\min14}{\revtim\yr2010\mo2\dy4\hr14\min19}{\version1}
{\edmins5}{\nofpages2}{\nofwords674}{\nofchars3843}{\*\company scims}{\nofcharsws4508}{\vern24689}}\margl1440\margr1440\margb540 \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\formshade\horzdoc\dgmargin\dghspace180
\dgvspace180\dghorigin1440\dgvorigin1440\dghshow1\dgvshow1
\jexpand\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\splytwnine\ftnlytwnine\htmautsp\nolnhtadjtbl\useltbaln\alntblind\lytcalctblwd\lyttblrtgr\lnbrkrule\nobrkwrptbl\snaptogridincell\allowfieldendsel\wrppunct
\asianbrkrule\rsidroot10027726\newtblstyruls\nogrowautofit \fet0\sectd \linex0\endnhere\titlepg\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid6971738\sftnbj {\header \pard\plain \s16\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar
\tqc\tx4680\tqr\tx9360\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\field{\*\fldinst {\insrsid209720  PAGE   \\* MERGEFORMAT }}{\fldrslt {\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid10027726 2}}}{
\insrsid4415090 
\par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4680\tqr\tx9360\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid4415090 
\par }}{\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}}
{\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8
\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\caps\f68\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 In the High Court of Fiji
\par Held at Suva
\par Criminal Jurisdiction
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 Criminal Case No HAC 011 of 2009.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 BETWEEN}{\insrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\b\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 THE STATE
\par }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 Applicant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 AND
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\b\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 AMASAI KOROVATA
\par }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 Accused
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 
\par Mrs. N. Ratakele for the State
\par Mr. T. Fa for the Accused.
\par 
\par }{\b\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 Date of hearing}{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 : 26/01/10; 26/01/10
\par }{\b\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 Date of sentencing}{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 : 27/01/10
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\b\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 SENTENCE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 1. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 You have been convicted of one offence of intending to do grievous harm to another by unlawfully wounding Gregory Prakash with a cane knife, contrary to section 224(a) of the Penal Code, Cap 17.

\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 2. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 The facts show that when the victim was working in his cassava plot early on the morning of 24 October 2008, you came out of your house, meters away and approached him angrily, arguing 
that it was your cassava plot and not his and that he had no right to be there. You then suddenly swung the knife as if to strike a blow on his head, but he fended it off with his 
hands which resulted in very serious injuries to his right hand, and in fact causing him to lose a third of his middle finger.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 3. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 One shudders to think of what would have happened had the victim not been able to deflect the blow. A cane knife is a very dang
erous weapon and in the hands of an angry and belligerent assailant a lethal weapon. The way you swung the knife at Mr. Prakash\rquote 
s head that morning was unnecessary and it must be assumed that you intended to occasion serious harm - as the assessors unanimously found.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 4. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 Antecedents submitted by the State show that the accused is 45 years old, is married and manages his own business. 
He is also known to have ten previous convictions in the last 10 years, seven of which are for crimes of violence. A victim impact statement reveals that the victim who lost half of his finger has also lost his self-esteem and 
feels very insecure in his home environment (The accused having been a close neighbor). He has also lost interest in his studies at Fiji Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) and is working as a taxi driver.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 5. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 On behalf of the accused Mr Fa places emphasis on his happy family life which includes four young children and a stay-at-home wife. He asks me to pass a sentence which will protect this 
domestic arrangement. He tells me that the accused is a self made business man who runs a company that cleans the exteriors of tall buildings in Suva. He earns a most healthy $125,000 a year from this business. 
He suggests that a suspended sentence, coupled with a large fine would be an appropriate sentence in the circumstances.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 6. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 Counsel for the State strenuously opposes such a penalty \endash  she stresses
 that crimes of violence should not attract suspended sentences and that consideration must be given to the seriousness of the crime.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 7. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 The Courts in Fiji have been consistent in finding that the use of cane knives as weapons must inevitably lead to immediate custodial sentences.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 8. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 In the case of }{\b\ul\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 State v. Viliame Cavubati }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 HAA 80 of 2001, Shameem J said that sentences for this offence "appear"
 to range from a suspended sentence where there was little or no injury through to 2\'bd years. The cases brought to my attention seem to bear that proposition out however given that the maximum term of imprisonment is life imprisonment, this "range"
 would now appear in 2010 to be rather lenient. By using such a lethal weapon, this offence should only ever attract a suspended sentence in the rarest, circumstances and sentences of up to 4 or 5 years could easily be justified.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 9. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 I would take a starting point for this offence of 18 months imprisonment. There are several aggravating features however to be taken into consideration.
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 - }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 There was no provocation on the part of the victim
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 - }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 The victim was unarmed
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 - }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 The accused attempted to land a blow on the v
ictims head which is of course highly dangerous and potentially lethal
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 - }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 The victim has been handicapped and been rendered emotionally "disturbed".
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726 
\par }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 For these highly aggravating features, I would add another 12 months to that starting point making a sentence of 2\'bd years.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 10. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 There are no mitigating features in the accused\rquote s favour. 
He made an offer of compensation to the victim but it is noteworthy that that offer did not come soon after the assault but 2 weeks before he came to trial \endash  making it an offer attracting a high degree of cynicism. His long record of violent 
behavior does not afford him any credit from this Court. An obviously violent and belligerent repeat offender can expect no mercy from the Courts.
\par 
\par }{\insrsid10027726 11. }{\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 He is sentenced to a term of 2\'bd years imprisonment.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\b\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 P K Madigan
\par Judge
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10027726 {\insrsid10027726\charrsid10027726 
\par At Suva
\par 27 January 2010}{\insrsid1972231\charrsid10027726 
\par }}