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\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid10883358 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI}{\b\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid10883358 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid10883358 AT SUVA
\par APPELLATE JURISDICTION
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 CRIMINAL APPEAL CASE NO.: HAA 0}{\fs24\insrsid7887793 5}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 8 OF 2010}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 BETWEEN:}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\b\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid10883358 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid10883358 JOSUA NATAKURU NALATU
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 AND:}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid10883358 THE STATE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid3742538 Counsel: }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 Applicant in Person
\par Ms. S. Tagivakatini for the State}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid3742538 Date of Hearing: }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 19}{\fs24\super\insrsid10883358\charrsid10883358 th}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 November 2010
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid3742538 Date of Ruling:}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  09}{\fs24\super\insrsid10883358\charrsid10883358 th}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 December 2010}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\b\fs24\ul\insrsid4218490\charrsid10883358 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 1. The appellant was charged for theft, punishable under Section 291 of the Crimes Decree No. 44 of 2009, in the Magistrate's Court.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 2. The appellant pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted the summary of facts.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 3. The appellant was convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on the 13}{\fs24\super\insrsid7887793\charrsid7887793 th}{\fs24\insrsid7887793  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 May 2010.}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 4. Being aggrieved with the sentence the appellant preferred an appeal and}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
submitted following grounds of appeal. I wish to place it on record that he had submitted several letters and written submission on this regard. Most are repeated therefore following grounds of appeal are identified for consideration.}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (a) That the sentence is manifestly harsh and excessive when considering the totality of the offending and wrong in principle.}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (b) That the Learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact in not considering that I was under self induced intoxication when }{
\fs24\insrsid7887793 I}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  committed the offence, therefore my conduct accidental, when sentencing.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (c) That the Learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact in failing to take into critical mitigating factors on sentencing.}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 5. The appeal was filed out of time. The State Counsel raised objection in her written submission but in open Court, she submitted that she has no objection of hearing the substantial appeal.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 

\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 6. Considering all material, the Court granted enlarging the time of appeal.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
7. The appellant filed a lengthy 14 pages written submission in addition to his other short submissions. State Counsel filed a written submission objecting the enlargement of time of appeal in that, there is portion she had dealt with the main}{
\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 issue. She confined herself with the same written submission without filing another submission after the appellant's submission.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 8. Now }{\fs24\insrsid7887793 I}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  consider the conviction. The appellant had not challenged the conviction when I perused the record. I find that th
e appellant had pleaded to the information on his own free will, accepting it as unequivocal, I see no reason to interfere with the conviction.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 9. Now I consider the 1}{\fs24\super\insrsid7887793\charrsid7887793 st}{\fs24\insrsid7887793  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 ground of appeal.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (a) That the sentence is manifestly harsh and excessive when considering the totality of the offending and wrong in principle.}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 10. Considering the nature of the offence Section 291 of the Crimes Decree provides a maximum 10 years imprisonment. The tariff is discussed in many cases. In }{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 
Kaloumaira vs State}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  }{\i\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 2008 FJHC 63}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  it was stated the tariff is 6 months to 12 months. In }{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 Tiko}{
\b\fs24\insrsid7887793 i}{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 toga vs State}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  }{\i\fs24\insrsid15295857\charrsid15295857 [}{\i\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 2008}{\i\fs24\insrsid15295857 ]}{
\i\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793  FJHC 44}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  it was found to be 18 months to 3 years. In }{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 Sh}{\b\fs24\insrsid7887793\charrsid7887793 i}{
\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 u Prasad vs State }{\i\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 Crim. App. 28, 29, 35 of 1993}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  the Court imposed 12 months to a first offender. In }{
\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 Manoa Laqere v State}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  }{\i\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 Cri. App. 31}{\i\fs24\insrsid7887793 -}{\i\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid7887793 34, 61 of 1997}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  the Court upheld that 4 }{\fs24\insrsid9711854 \'bd}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 years imprisonment to a previous offender. Considering this case we can conclude the tariff is between 6 months to 4 }{
\fs24\insrsid7887793 \'bd}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  years imprisonment. The Learned Magistrate commencing her sentence at 12 months is very much within the tariff. I do not see any illegality in the starting point of the sentence.}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 11. The Learned Magistrate had considered the aggravating factors and added 6 months and reduced 6 months for the early plea and mitigating factors.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 12. Now I 
consider the offence per se. The appellant went to the virtual complainant's house, who is a taxi driver, to hire his taxi to go home. There, he and his wife offered the appellant dinner and packed the same for him to take it to his home. When he left the
 house he took the mobile phone of the complainant and it was recovered from him by the Police on the following day.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 13. The complainant and his wife were kind enough to pack dinner for the appellant even though he was not very known to them, under that ci
rcumstances his act can be considered as betrayal of trust. Considering the nature of the offence and the way it was committed, I do not see the Learned Magistrate is harsh in her sentencing in fact she has considered very leniently. Considering all the a
bove facts I find that the 1}{\fs24\super\insrsid13175474\charrsid13175474 st}{\fs24\insrsid13175474  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 ground of appeal has no merit. Therefore it fails.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 14. Now I consider the 2}{\fs24\super\insrsid9711854\charrsid9711854 nd}{\fs24\insrsid9711854  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 ground of appeal.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (b) That the Learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact in not considering that I was under self induced intoxication when I co
mmitted the offence, therefore my conduct accidental, when sentencing.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 15. The appellant submits that the offence was committed under the influence of liquor therefore it should be considered as accidental.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 16. This ground of appeal goes to the root of the conviction. }{\fs24\insrsid13175474\charrsid4218490 In}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
 other words the appellant says that he had no intention to commit the offence. If there is intention there is no offence because the offence consists of two major ingredients. Those are }{\i\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid13175474 actus reus}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  (the act) and }{\i\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid13175474 mens rea}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  (the intention). If one of these ingredient fails, there is no offence.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 17. In this case the appellant had admitted committing the offence by pleading guilty to the charge. Further he admitted in the High Court and submitted that he is not canvassing the conviction but only the sentence.
}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid13898696 18. Now I consider Section 29 and 3}{\fs24\insrsid13175474\charrsid13898696 0}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid13898696  of the Crimes Decree.
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid2109563 29}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 . "For the purposes of this Chapter, intoxication is self induced unless it came about }
{\fs24\insrsid10883358 \endash }{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li1440\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (a) Involuntarily; or}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li1440\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (b) As a result of fraud, sudden or extraordinary emergency,}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
accident, reasonable mistake, duress or force".}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid2109563 30. }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 "(1)}{\fs24\insrsid13898696 .}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
 Evidence of self induced intoxication cannot be considered in determining whether a fault element of basic intent existed.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (2) A fault element of basic intent is a fault element of intention}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
for a physical e}{\fs24\insrsid13898696 l}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 ement that consists only of conduct.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
(3) This section does not prevent evidence of self induced intoxication being taken into consideration in determining whether conduct was accidental.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (4) This section does not}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
prevent evidence of self induced intoxication being }{\fs24\insrsid13898696 t}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 ake}{\fs24\insrsid13898696 n}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  in}{\fs24\insrsid13898696 t}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 
o consideration in determining whether }{\fs24\insrsid13898696 a }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 person had a mistaken belief}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 about facts if the}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{
\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 person had considered whether or not the facts existed. }{\fs24\insrsid10883358 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (}{\fs24\insrsid10883358 5}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 ) }{\fs24\insrsid10883358 
A person may be regarded as having considered whether or }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 not facts existed if }{\fs24\insrsid10883358 \endash 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358 
\par }\pard \ql \li1440\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (a) he or she had considered, on}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 a previous occasion,}{
\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 whether those facts existed in circumstances surrounding that occasion; and}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li1440\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 (b) he or she honestly and reasonably believed that the circumstances surrounding the present occasion were}{
\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 the same, or substantially the same}{\fs24\insrsid10883358 , as those surrounding the previous occasion."}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid13898696 
19. This comes under part 6 of the Crimes Decree. If any person claims that he falls within the circumstances of this part, he has to prove the defence. In this case the appellant had submitted to the magistrate that he was drunk but he has not claimed th
at he was of the level of intoxication that he didn\rquote t know what he was doing. If the appellant had proved that fact in the Magistrate's Court he could have got an absolute acquittal.
\par }{\fs24\insrsid13898696\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 20}{\fs24\insrsid10883358 .}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 If}{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490  the Court consider the self intoxication as an abs}{
\fs24\insrsid10883358 olute defence it
 is going to cause serious insecure to the society. Thereafter all the offenders will consume alcohol before they commit any offence and claim defence under this section. I agree that intoxication can be taken as a defence but subject to several qualifica
tions. In this case the appellant had not qualified to get the defence of self intoxication.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 21. In the case of }{\b\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid9711854 State v Vamarasi}{\b\fs24\insrsid8746617  Motofaga [2010}{\b\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid9711854 ]}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  }{\fs24\insrsid1993068 FJHC 294}
{\fs24\insrsid8354886 ;}{\fs24\insrsid1993068  }{\i\fs24\insrsid7027162 HAC}{\i\fs24\insrsid8746617 127}{\i\fs24\insrsid8354886 .}{\i\fs24\insrsid10883358\charrsid9711854 2009}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  at page 2 of paragraph 8 Goundar J stated:-}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid10883358 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9711854 {\fs24\insrsid10883358 "C
learly this was a very serious assault administered after the accused had lost control of his temper. The accused was drunk but drunkenness is not a mitigating factor. There are some minor provocation from the victim, who tried to damage the property of t
he accused after getting drunk".
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid10883358 
\par 22. Considering all above facts I am of the view that the 2}{\fs24\super\insrsid10883358\charrsid10883358 nd}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  ground of the appeal cannot be sustained therefore it is dismissed.
\par 
\par 23. Now I consider the 3}{\fs24\super\insrsid10883358\charrsid10883358 rd}{\fs24\insrsid10883358  ground of appeal.
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid10883358 {\fs24\insrsid10883358 (c) That the learned Magistrate erred in law and in fact in failing to take into critical m}{\fs24\insrsid9711854 itigating factors on sentencing.
}{\fs24\insrsid10883358 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9711854 {\fs24\insrsid9711854 
\par 24. The Learned Magistrate had considered following factors as mitigating fea
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid9711854 {\fs24\insrsid9711854 - he was 32 }{\fs24\insrsid13898696 y}{\fs24\insrsid9711854 ears of age
\par - married with two children
\par - regretted and was remorseful for what happened
\par - last offence committed was 5 years ago
\par - had been drunk and was tempted to take the phone
\par - a plea of guilty was given a discount
\par - previous convictions more than 10 years old were disregarded 
\par - previously employed by the Social Welfare but lost the job
\par - unemployed at the moment
\par - pleaded guilty in the first available instance and therefore given a 1/3 remission.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9711854 {\fs24\insrsid9711854 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 25. In my view the learned Magistrate had extensively cons}{\fs24\insrsid1193789 idered the mitigating }{
\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 circumstances, the early plea and}{\fs24\insrsid9711854  given the appellant 1/3 deduction of the sentence.}{\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid9711854\charrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid4218490\charrsid4218490 26. There is no hard and fast rule, that the early plea should }{\fs24\insrsid9711854 
be given 1/3 discount. As I discussed in many other cases previously the deduction is completely in the hands of the trial judges. They may consider the facts of the case and all other circumstances and decide the period of deductions.}{
\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\fs24\insrsid9711854 
\par 27. Considering all above factors the 3}{\fs24\super\insrsid9711854\charrsid9711854 rd}{\fs24\insrsid9711854  ground of appeal also falls in its own merits.
\par 
\par 28. Since all grounds of appeal failed I dismiss the appeal.
\par 
\par 29. Appeal dismissed.
\par 
\par 30. 30 days to appeal.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9711854 {\b\fs24\insrsid9711854 S Thurairaja
\par Judge}{\b\fs24\insrsid9711854\charrsid9711854 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4218490 {\fs24\insrsid4218490 
\par }{\b\fs24\insrsid9711854 At Suva
\par 
\par Solicitors
\par }{\fs24\insrsid9711854 Applicant in Person
\par Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for the State.}{\fs24\insrsid9711854\charrsid9711854 
\par }}