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SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\author blake_r}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2003\mo9\dy25\hr12\min46}{\revtim\yr2003\mo9\dy25\hr13\min55}{\version3}{\edmins6}{\nofpages1}{\nofwords190}{\nofchars1084} {\*\company USP}{\nofcharsws1272}{\vern16469}}\paperw11904\paperh16834\margl1440\margr1440 \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\subfontbysize\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace120\dgvspace120\dghorigin1701 \dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow3\jcompress\viewkind4\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\rsidroot3874003 \fet0\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\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3697769 \fs20\lang1033\langfe5129\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp5129 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 IN THE SUPREME COURT O}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 F}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 FIJI \par A}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3697769\charrsid6651669 PPE}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15810007\charrsid6651669 L}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3697769\charrsid6651669 LATE JURISDICTION}{ \b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3697769 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3697769\charrsid6651669 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3697769 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 Criminal Appeal No. 110 of 1977 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx5184\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3697769 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx5184\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 SITIVENI NAMUA \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 Appellant \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 v. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 REGINAM \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 Respondent \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 JUDGMENT \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3697769 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 The appellant was convicted by the Magistrates Court }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 S}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 uva o}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 f}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 Robbery with violence contrary to section 326(1) of the Penal }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 C}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 od}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 e}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 He appeals against his conviction and sentence. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 The prosecution evidence briefly was that the appellant had hired a taxi and, at the end of the journey, given }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 t}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 he driver a $2 note. As the driver was about to give him 70 cents change, the appellant punched him on the face and took back the }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 $}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 2 note from the driver's shirt pocket. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 The appellant admitted slapping the driver but said that he had done so in self-defence while protecting himself against an attack by the driver with an iron bar.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 He denied taking any money from him. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 The issue before the Court, }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 therefore}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 , was one solely of credibility and I see no reason for upsetting the learned Magistrate's finding of fact. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx4032\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3697769 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 The Magistrate was correct in stating that a serious view must be taken by Courts of attacks on taxi drivers at ni}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3697769\charrsid6651669 gh}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 t.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid924845\charrsid6651669 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 In view of that, th e sentence imposed by him on the appella}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3697769\charrsid6651669 nt is anything but excessive. \par \par The appeal is dismissed. \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15810007 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 (G. Mishra)}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid15810007\charrsid6651669 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 JUDGE \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid924845 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3697769\charrsid6651669 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe5129\langnp2057\insrsid3874003\charrsid6651669 Suva, \par 14th October 1977 \par }}