22 May 1990
THE QUEEN v. NGUYEN VAN XUYEN
- Citation
- THE QUEEN v. NGUYEN VAN XUYEN
- Court
- Court of First Instance
- Case number
- HCMA468/1990
The Magistracy's apparent view that 9 months is a minimum sentence for pickpocketing is wrong in principle for offenders under 21; s.109(a) requires consideration of alternatives to custody and, where custody is unavoidable for petty crime by young first offenders, the term should be short (approximately three months) to provide a short, sharp shock.