{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\deff0\stshfdbch0\stshfloch0\stshfhich0\stshfbi0\deflang1033\deflangfe1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f35\fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020b0604030504040204}Tahoma;}{\f173\froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f174\froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr{\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f176\froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f177\froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f178\froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f179\froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic){\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f180\froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic{\*\falt Times New Roman};}{\f181\froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese){\*\falt Times New Roman};}
{\f523\fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Tahoma CE;}{\f524\fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Tahoma Cyr;}{\f526\fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Tahoma Greek;}{\f527\fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Tahoma Tur;}{\f528\fswiss\fcharset177\fprq2 Tahoma (Hebrew);}
{\f529\fswiss\fcharset178\fprq2 Tahoma (Arabic);}{\f530\fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Tahoma Baltic;}{\f531\fswiss\fcharset163\fprq2 Tahoma (Vietnamese);}{\f532\fswiss\fcharset222\fprq2 Tahoma (Thai);}}{\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\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \snext0 Normal;}{\s1\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\nowidctlpar
\tqr\tx1242\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 1;}{\s2\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\nowidctlpar\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 
\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext0 heading 2;}{\*\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\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\tx420\tqr\tx4467\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 
\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext15 Title;}{\s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \cbpat9 \f35\fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext16 \ssemihidden 
Document Map;}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid13193495\rsid16409046}{\*\generator Microsoft Word 10.0.6612;}{\info{\title THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\author USP}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr1997\mo11\dy16\hr21\min28}{\revtim\yr2004\mo10\dy19\hr14\min27}{\version5}
{\edmins19}{\nofpages2}{\nofwords597}{\nofchars3403}{\*\company  }{\nofcharsws3993}{\vern16389}}\margl1701\margr1701\margt1134\margb1134 \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\horzdoc\dghspace120
\dgvspace120\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow3\jcompress\viewkind4\viewscale100\nolnhtadjtbl\rsidroot16409046 \fet0\sectd \linex0\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid16409046\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 \s15\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 \fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\ulnone\insrsid16409046\charrsid16409046 THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI
\par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\caps\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046\charrsid16409046 Appellate Jurisdiction

\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 96 OF 1977
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 TEVITA FOTOFILI}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 alias }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046\charrsid16409046 OHU}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par Appellant
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 v}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 .
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\nowidctlpar\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 \b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid16409046 REGINAM
\par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 Respondent
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\insrsid16409046 
\par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\nowidctlpar\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 \b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid16409046 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par The appellant was on the 8th March, 1977 convicted of the offence of Rape by the Magistrates Count sitting at Lomaloma Lau and sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment. He appeals against conviction and sentence.
\par 
\par There are 10 grounds of appeal. Many of them are
 irrelevant and are complaints about the Investigating officer and the interpreter. He asserted his innocence. I have treated his grounds as being allegations that there was insufficient evidence on which to convict him.
\par 
\par The complainant was a girl aged 14. The Magistrate in his judgement refers to her as a shy little girl who could be taken to be 12 years of age from her appearance. She was a virgin before the offence.
\par 
\par On the 12th February 1977 the complainant went with two other girls to Wailevu to get v
egetables. At Wailevu the accused spoke to the complainant and invited her to go to his plantation where he would give her vegetables. She related what happened after she arrived at the accussed's plantation where the alleged offence was committed.
\par 
\par The complainant testified that the accused asked her for a kiss she refused and started crying. He then grabbed her by the thigh and pulled her pants off and fondled}{\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 her breasts. He put her on the ground and raped her while she was crying and yelling. The c
omplainant gave details of what happened which I do not consider it necessary to repeat. The trial Magistrate considered}{\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 all}{
\i\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 the evidence and had no hesitation in accepting her evidence in its entirety.
\par 
\par The accused after the offence took the girl back to her companions to whom she immediately made a complaint and took off her pants and showed then the blood on her pants.
\par 
\par She returned to her village and told her mother about the incident. There was considerable delay by the complainant's family in reportin
g the matter and it was not until the 1st March 1977 that she was medically examined. The doctor testified that the complainant's hymen was ruptured and was caused by forcible penetration which could have occurred about a fortnight previously.
\par 
\par One of the complainant's companions gave evidence of the complainant's complaint and her condition when she returned from the appellant's plantation. She was crying, and her shorts were torn and she had blood on the inside of her pants.
\par 
\par The other companion also gave evidence about the complainant's condition. She was crying, her trousers were torn and there was fresh blood on the crotch of her panties. She also saw what appeared to be semen on the panties.
\par 
\par The appellant gave evidence on oath and told a story which t
he Magistrate rightly labelled patently absurd. He alleged he was trying to find out if the girl had been out with anyone before. That she took off her parts and he pretended to lie on top of her and to see whether she was a virgin he inserted his finger 
in her vagina. He deni}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 ed having intercourse with her.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par 
\par The trial Magistrate considered all the evidence and was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the offence had been committed and convicted the accused. On my consideration of the evidence there was a
mple evidence to establish the offence and the appellant was rightly convicted,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 the appeal against conviction fails.
\par 
\par On the question of sentence I do not consider the sentence excessive. If anything it was on the lenient side.
\par 
\par The appellant was formerly a
 member of the Royal Fiji Police. While no great force was used by the appellant this was no doubt due to small size of the girl who was an immature school girl and the size of the appellant a strongly built male. The Magistrate considered the complainant
 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 was terrified by the accu}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 sed\rquote s behaviour.
\par 
\par The full details of this case make distressing reading and despite the appellant's prior good conduct there are no grounds for exercising leniency.
\par 
\par The appeal is dismissed.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046\charrsid16409046 (R.G. Kermode)
\par JUDGE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16409046 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 Suva,
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046 29th September,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid0\langnp2057\insrsid16409046  1977.
\par }}