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{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1798041 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 IN THE
 SUPREME COURT OF FIJI}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1798041\charrsid1798041 
\par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 Appellate Jurisdiction}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1798041\charrsid1798041 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1798041 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 Criminal Appeal No. 81 of 1978
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1798041 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 Between:
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1798041 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1798041\charrsid1798041 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1798041 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1798041\charrsid1798041 1. RAMESH CHAND F/N RAM}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1798041  }{
\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1798041\charrsid1798041 DULARE
\par 2. VEER CHAND F/N RAM DULARE
\par 3. PREM HAND F/N RAM DULARE
\par 4. SURESH CHAND F/N RAM DULARE
\par 5. SUBHASH CHAND F/N RAM DULARE
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1798041 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1798041\charrsid1798041 
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\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1798041 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 JUDGMENT
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\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 On the 31st July 1978 at Navua Magistrates Court}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1798041  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 
the appellants were jointly convicted of unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous harm contrary to section 255(a) of the Penal Code and on the following day were each sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment.}{
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\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1798041 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 
The appellants have appealed against conviction on the grounds that the verdict is unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the weight of the evidence adduced and to the contradictions and inconsistencies in the evidence of the prosec
ution witnesses, and have appealed against sentence as being harsh and excessive.
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033 
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The prosecution evidence established that on the night of the 30th July 1977 the appellants, some of whom were armed with sticks, set upon a neighbour while he was passing near}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid3686862\charrsid1798041 their home inflicting lacerated wounds and other injuries. Each}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 o}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033 f the appellants was identified}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 
 by an independent witness on whose evidence the trial Magistrate relied and whose identification of the appellants was corroborated by another witness.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 
\par There were discrepancies as to how many of the appellants were armed with sticks and on various other details of the assault, as one would expect in the case of an}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033  }{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 unexpected attack at night, and these were not overlooked by the trial Magistrate. However the trial Magistrate was satisfied on the prosecution evidence that
 the attack on the neighbour was a joint venture on the part of the appellants each of whom was aiding and abetting the others, and the trial Magistrate's finding to that effect was fully justified on the evidence, each of the appellants being a principal
 offender under the provisions of section 21(1)(c) of the Penal Code.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 
\par At their trial defence counsel rightly submitted that the case turned entirely on the facts, and on the facts found by the trial Magistrate the appellants were clearly guilty as charged. The appeals against conviction accordingly fail.}{
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\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 
\par With regard to sentence the trial Magistrate, after adjourning to consider the position and the individual circumstances of each of the appellants, concluded that a custodial sentence was desirable and saw n
o reason to differentiate between the appellants; and I see no reason to differ from his approach. It is clear that the appellants, who are brothers and some of whom have previous convictions for assault, come from a violent family and they appear to}{
\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033  }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 
be under the impression that in pursuance of family feuds and disputes with neighbours they can take the law into their own hands. It is time that they, and others like them, learned that they cannot do so with impunity and that uncivilised behaviour of t
his type will not be tolerated.
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 The appeal of each appellant is dismissed.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 
\par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1327033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 Chief Justice
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1327033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033 
\par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1327033\charrsid1327033 Suva,
\par 10th November 1978.
\par }}