1 Sept 1995
The trial judge's erroneous reference to a seven-year maximum underpinned his sentencing but was not decisive; having determined that the proper starting point for this conspiracy involving firearms was 18 years and applying a substantial discount for guilty plea and lesser role, the Court increased the sentence from five years to ten years imprisonment.
2 Oct 1986
The Court held the original global sentence of 10 years was excessive because the offences were distinct and required appropriate individual sentences; having taken into account the guilty plea and limited mitigating factors, the court reduced the burglary sentence from 4 to 3 years, assault from 2 to 1 year, upheld 4 years for use of a firearm, imposed 1 year for possession to run concurrently, ordered counts 1,2 and 4 consecutive and count 5 concurrent, reducing the total sentence to 8 years.
1 May 1986
Where a defendant has given and undertaken to give extensive, risky assistance amounting to 'supergrass' cooperation, a two-thirds reduction of the appropriate custodial sentence is permissible; applying that principle the Court reduced the effective sentence from the judge's 28-year baseline to nine years concurrent on each count.
10 Aug 1984
The magistrate's acceptance of the security officers' evidence that they used only reasonable force and his express finding that the appellant wilfully drew and pointed his revolver with hostile intent established the requisite mens rea for assault; self-defence was not made out and the conviction was properly upheld.
23 May 1978
The sentences of twelve years were at the top end and were unnecessarily severe in the circumstances; the court reduced both appellants' sentences to ten years, allowing the 1st Appellant's appeal and granting the 2nd Appellant leave to renew his abandoned application because he had abandoned it without professional advice.