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{\title IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\author blake_r}{\operator blake_r}{\creatim\yr2004\mo10\dy20\hr10\min13}{\revtim\yr2004\mo10\dy20\hr10\min13}{\version2}{\edmins5}{\nofpages1}{\nofwords305}{\nofchars1739}{\*\company USP}{\nofcharsws2040}
{\vern16389}}\paperw11909\paperh16834\margl720\margr720\margt1080\margb1080 \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\horzdoc\dghspace120\dgvspace120\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow3
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\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 IN }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
THE}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793  SUPREME }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 COURT OF FIJI
\par }{\b\caps\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 Appellate Jurisdiction
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 Criminal Appeal No. 124 of 1977
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 Between
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 TAITUSI GALUVAKADUA
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 and
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 REGINA
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 JUDGMENT
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 On the 26th September 1977 at Suva Magistrates}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
Court the appellant wan charged with and convicted on his own plea }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 if }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
robbery with violence contrary to section of the Penal Code and was sentenced to two years}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 '}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793  imprisonment.
\par 
\par The appellant has appealed against sent being too severe.
\par 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 The facts of th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 e case are that on the }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 11}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 February 1977 the complainant, who is a grass}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 -}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 cutting}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
contractor, went by car to an area where his workmen were}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 employed in order to pay them their wages. On arrival}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  h}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 e was accosted by}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  the }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
appellant armed with a piece of}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  wood which h}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 ad been sharpened to a point at one end, who}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 punched the complainant in the face, demanded all the}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 money that he }{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 ha}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 d, and to}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 ok}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
 $100 from the pocket of the}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793  }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 complainant}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 '}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 s trousers.
\par 
\par Th}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 e appellant fled the scene and resisted arrest until the day h}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 e was charged}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 .}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 Far from the sentence being too severe, it is to}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 o}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
 lenient. It is clear from the facts that it was a premeditated offence, in that the appellant had been keeping 
observation on the complainant and accosted him at a time when he anticipated that he would be in possession of the wages for his workmen, and had armed himself with a sharpened piece of wood for use as an offensive weapon.
\par 
\par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 The fact that there has been a}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793  decline in offences of robbery with violence is no reason for passing l}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 ighter sentences. Indeed, such a}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
n approach would simply encourage potential offenders. It remains one of the most serious offences in the criminal calendar and the sentences imposed must reflect the Court}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 '}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 s determination that it be stamped out.
\par 
\par A}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 t}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793  the trial Magistrate did not see fit to impos}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 e}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793  corporal punishment, no doubt because the appellant is a first offender, I shall refrain from doing so.
\par 
\par The sentence of two years}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 '}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793  imprisonment is hereby increased to a sentence of three years}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793 '}{
\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793  imprisonment with effect from the 26th September 1977.
\par 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 Grant, C.J.
\par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 Chief Justice
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5533793 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5533793\charrsid5533793 
\par Suva,
\par 2nd December 1977
\par }}