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\jcompress\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\rsidroot14949155 \fet0{\*\wgrffmtfilter 013f}\sectd \linex0\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {\*\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\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4524539 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid134863 IN THE SUPREM}{ \b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid3625523 E COURT OF FIJI}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid3625523 (WESTERN DIVISION)}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4920690 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid11041648 AT LAUT0K}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid11041648 A}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid11041648 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4524539 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690\charrsid11041648 APPELLATE JURISDICTION}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid11041648 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid4920690 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4524539 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid4920690 Criminal Appeal No. 18 of 1977 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4524539 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 BETWEEN}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4524539 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid3625523 INOSI LETT \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 Appellant \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4524539 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 AND}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4524539 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid3625523 REGINAM \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15730072 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 M}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 r. M.T. }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 Kh}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 an for the Appellant}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 Mr. D. Williams for the Respondent}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid2508774 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4524539 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid3625523 JUDGMEN}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid3625523 T \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid3625523 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 The}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 appellant pleaded guilty in the }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid2508774 Magistrate}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid2508774 s}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 Court at Ba}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 to }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 assaultin}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 g}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 his wife and causing her actual bodily harm and was s}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 entenced to nine months imprison}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid2508774 ment}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 . He appeals against sentence. At the time he }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523\charrsid2508774 appeared}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 in the Magistrate}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 '}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 s Court his wife told the Magistrate that she and the appellant were still separated, but she has now sworn an affidavit in which she says that she became reconciled with her husband three days before }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 the Court case and }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 told him sh}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 e}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 would return to him immediately after the case. The wife was quite severely beaten up; she had four stitches to her earhole and two to the outer ear, she had one stitch to her forehead and left eye. Both eyes}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 were swollen and tender, as was her forehead, and her left hip, and she had a bruised chest. }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 The injuries would leave no per}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 manent }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 injury}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 . The appellant admitted that h}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 e was drunk. Normally this is the kind of assault which would be punished by a custod ial sentence, even thoug}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 h the accused was a first offender. Appellant}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3625523 s wife has, howe}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 ver, made a powerful plea in his defence in the affidavit which she swore in support of appellant}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 '}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 s application for bail pending appeal - indeed it would not be too much to say that it was owing to her efforts that he was given bail. It appears that the}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 y }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 were married in April}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 1974 and have one child born in March 1975. They both live at Vatukoula and have bought a house from the Housing Authority, giving the authority a mort}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 g}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 age b}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 ack on which they pay $12.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 75 a month, and she is }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid134863 frightened that if he goes to g}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 ao}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 l he will lose his job. He works at Tavua Po}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 werhouse and is 27 years of age.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 \par \par He spent two weeks in prison and was lucky enough to get his}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 job back on his release. The appellant was unrepresented in the }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 M}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 agistrate}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 '}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 s Court but in th}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 is Court he was represented by M}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 r. M.T. Khan. In his decision on the application for bail the}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 learnt Magistrate said that if the a}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 dditional facts then put before him had been before the Court when the appellant was charged consideration might have bee}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13580931 n}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 given to a suspended sen}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 tence. }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 Mr. }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 M.T. K}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 han asked the Court to bind the appellant over, but I am not prepared to do th}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15407542 at. He also told the Court that}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 this appellant would take out a prohibition order for three}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 years and he has indeed sign}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11345942 ed such an application. In the c}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 ircumstances deposed to by this appellant}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 '}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 s wi}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 f}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 e and bearing in mind }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 w}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 hat his counsel has said, and the learned Magistrate}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4920690 ' }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 s }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 comme}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 nts in granting bail I am of the opinio}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 n that the custodial sentence in}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 this case is not }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 an appropriate sentence. I direc}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 t that the sentence }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805\charrsid2508774 imposed}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 by th}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid16148805 e learnt Magistrate is suspende}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2508774\charrsid2508774 d for three years.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4524539 \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11345942 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12339230\charrsid4524539 SGD. (K.}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11041648 }{ \b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12339230\charrsid4524539 A. STUART)}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12339230 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12339230\charrsid4524539 JUDGE}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12339230\charrsid16148805 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12339230 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12339230 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4524539\charrsid4524539 LAUTOKA,}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4524539\charrsid4524539 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11345942 18th April, 1977.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid12339230\charrsid11345942 \par }}