{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang5129\deflangfe5129{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f37\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f38\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f40\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f41\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f42\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f43\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f44\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f45\froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}}{\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\lang5129\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp5129\langfenp1033 \snext0 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;}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid4471782\rsid7081956\rsid13007730\rsid15470206}
{\*\generator Microsoft Word 10.0.4219;}{\info{\title IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\author blake_r}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2003\mo7\dy3\hr9\min17}{\revtim\yr2003\mo7\dy3\hr9\min17}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages2}{\nofwords255}{\nofchars1456}
{\*\company USP}{\nofcharsws1708}{\vern16469}}\paperw11906\paperh16838 \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\formshade\horzdoc\dgmargin\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow1\dgvshow1
\jexpand\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\splytwnine\ftnlytwnine\htmautsp\nolnhtadjtbl\useltbaln\alntblind\lytcalctblwd\lyttblrtgr\lnbrkrule\nobrkwrptbl\snaptogridincell\allowfieldendsel\wrppunct\asianbrkrule\rsidroot7081956 \fet0\sectd 
\linex0\headery708\footery708\colsx708\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\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\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7081956 \fs24\lang5129\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp5129\langfenp1033 {\b\insrsid7081956\charrsid7081956 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI
\par Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }{\insrsid7081956 
\par Criminal Appeal No. 105 of 1977
\par 
\par }{\b\insrsid7081956\charrsid7081956 AMINIO MAITECI
\par }{\insrsid7081956 Appellant
\par 
\par v
\par 
\par }{\b\insrsid7081956\charrsid7081956 REGINAM
\par }{\insrsid7081956 Respondent
\par 
\par }{\b\insrsid7081956\charrsid7081956 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid7081956 
\par }{\insrsid15470206 The appellant was, on his own plea, convicted by the Magistrates Court Suva of damaging property contrary to section 360(1) of the Penal Code and sentenced to six months' imprisonment.}{\insrsid7081956 
\par }{\insrsid15470206 
\par He appeals against the sentence on the ground that it is too severe.
\par 
\par He had thrown stones at a moving vehicle which had failed to stop for him hitting it on the side. When the driv
er of the car returned to remonstrate with him, he kicked the side of the vehicle. The total damage shown in the particulars of the offence was fifty dollars.
\par 
\par In passing the sentence the learned Magistrate said,
\par 
\par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid15470206 {\insrsid15470206 "Throwing stones at moving vehicles is exceedingly dangerous and must be deterred by Court."
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15470206 {\insrsid15470206 
\par }{\insrsid13007730 Courts throughout Fiji Consistently act on this principle and the sentence imposed is anything but unusual for a first offender. Learned Counsel for the appellant gave the details of financial loss and lo
ss of a professional career which the appellant, a student of Nasina Teachers' College, now faces as a result of this conviction and sentence and urged that this Court should set aside the sentence and substitute an order of absolute discharge under secti
on 38 of the Penal Code.}{\insrsid15470206 
\par }{\insrsid13007730 
\par I, however, accept the submission made by learned Counsel for the Respondent that it would be improper for this Court to create the belief in the public mind that students facing criminal charges are, in the eyes of the law, a privileged class.
\par 
\par I do not consider the sentence imposed either wrong in principle or manifestly excessive.
\par 
\par The appeal is dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13007730 {\insrsid13007730 (G. Mishra)
\par }{\ul\insrsid13007730\charrsid13007730 JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15470206 {\insrsid13007730 
\par Suva,
\par 14}{\super\insrsid13007730\charrsid13007730 th}{\insrsid13007730  October 1977
\par }}