R v Ramarou (CRI/T 70 of 91) [1995] LSCA 55 (9 March 1995)

C R I / T / 7 0 / 91 IN T HE H I GH C O U RT OF L E S O T HO In the m a t t er b e t w e e n: REX V M O E K E T SI R A M A R OU J U D G M E NT D e l i v e r ed by the H o n o u r a b le Mr. J u s t i ce W . C . M. M a q u tu on the 9th day of M a r c h, 1 9 9 5. A c c u s ed is charged w i th the crime of m u r d er of the late M o t l a t si B o h l o ko who died on the 3rd N o v e m b e r, 1 9 8 7. T he e v e n ts that led to this d e a th o c c u r r ed at H e r m on b e f o re 8.00 a.m. not far from a L e s o t ho E v a n g e l i c al C h u r ch s c h o o l. A c c o r d i ng to P. W.2 Florry M a k h e le A c c u s ed and D e c e a s ed w e re /. . . s e en f i g h t i ng t h r o w i ng s t o n es at e a ch o t h e r. S c h o ol c h i l d r en w e re w a t c h i n g. T h ey e v e n t u a l ly got h o ld of e a ch o t h er and b e g an r o l l i ng d o wn a s l o p e. P . W .2 w e nt to c a ll P. W.1 R e v e r e nd K o b e li L e s o l i. -2- P. W.1 s a ys at t he s t a ge he w i t n e s s ed the f i g ht A c c u s ed w as on top of the D e c e a s e d. P. W.1 n e v er w e nt n e a r e r, he w a t c h ed the f i g ht f r om a d i s t a n ce of a b o ut 4 00 or 500 m e t r e s. A c c u s ed w as on top of D e c e a s ed h i t t i ng D e c e a s ed w i th h is f i s t, h o l d i ng D e c e a s ed w i th one h a n d. D e c e a s ed w as a l so f i g h t i ng w i th h is h a n d s, A c c u s ed t h en p i c k ed up a s t o ne w i th b o th h a n ds and hit D e c e a s ed w i th it w i th b o th h a n ds on the h e ad or the h e ad r e g i o n. A c c u s ed hit D e c e a s ed w i th the s t o ne o n ce on the h e ad and a g a in hit D e c e a s ed o n ce on the l e g s. P . W .2 c o n t i n u es h er e v i d e n ce and s a ys a f t er t h ey had c a u g ht h o ld of e a ch o t h er A c c u s ed and D e c e a s ed had s o m e t h i ng l i ke an i r on rod in t h e ir h a n ds and w r e s t l i ng o v er i t. P . W .2 s a ys she d o es not k n ow h ow the f i g ht s t a r t ed she o n ly s aw t h em t h r o w i ng s t o n es at e a ch o t h e r. P. W.2 is n ot s u re e x a c t ly w h en he w e nt to call P. W.1. S he s a ys she o n ly saw A c c u s ed hit D e c e a s ed w i th a s t o ne w h i le D e c e a s ed w as on t he g r o u n d. A c c u s ed r a i s ed t he s t o ne w i th b o th h a n d s. U n d er c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on P . W .2 s a ys A c c u s ed w as s t a n d i ng w h en he h it D e c e a s ed w i th a s t o n e. S he w as 2 00 m e t r es a w a y. P . W .2 s a id she w as c o n f u s ed and s a id she h ad f o r g o t t en h ow it all h a p p e n e d. -3- P . W .3 a r e l a t i ve of D e c e a s ed c a me a f t er t he f i g ht w h en D e c e a s ed w as a l r e a dy d e a d. P . W .4 a p o l i c e m an w ho w as an i n v e s t i g a t i ng o f f i c er w as not p r e s e nt in C o u r t. H is d e p o s i t i on w as r e ad i n to the r e c o rd and w as a d m i t t ed by the c o n s e nt of b o th p a r t i e s. T h e re w as s o me d i s p u te a b o ut the s i ze of the s t o ne u s ed on D e c e a s e d. it w as e v e n t u a l ly b r o u g ht and w as m a r k ed E x h i b it 1. It w as 6 K i l o g r a ms in w e i g h t. T he i r on rod w h i ch D e c e a s ed had w as an a l u m i n i um 3 f e et l o ng rod w h i ch w e i g h ed .54 K i l o g r a m s. A c c u s ed c l a i ms he k i l l ed D e c e a s ed in s e l f - d e f e n ce b e c a u se D e c e a s ed had p r o d u c ed a k n i fe w h i le A c c u s ed w as on t op of h i m. He c o u ld n ot d i s p o s s e ss D e c e a s ed of the k n i fe w i t h o ut g e t t i ng h i m s e lf i n j u r ed as he w o u ld h a ve had to h o ld t he s h a rp e d ge of the k n i f e. A c c u s ed d e n i es he e v er a s s a u l t ed D e c e a s ed w i th h is fist or b a re h a n d s. He s a ys w h i le he w as on top of D e c e a s ed he r e s t r a i n ed D e c e a s ed f r om u s i ng the k n i fe w i th h is l e ft h a n d. E v e n t u a l ly he p i c k ed up the 6 K i l o g r am s t o ne w i th h is r i g ht h a nd a nd d r o p p ed it on t he D e c e a s ed f o r e h e a d, T h is w as d o ne in o r d er to d i s a b le D e c e a s e d. -4- T he c a u se of t he f i g ht w as t h at D e c e a s ed h ad b e en c a u s i ng h is s h e ep to d r i nk A c c u s e d 's w a t e r. T he w a t er w as in a b a th a nd w a t er is s c a r ce in t he a r e a. W h en A c c u s ed t a l k ed to D e c e a s ed a b o ut t h is t r y i ng to r e a s on w i th D e c e a s e d, D e c e a s ed s a id A c c u s ed c an go w h e re he l i k ed a nd a t t a c k ed A c c u s ed w i th s t o n e s. T h ey w e re 10 y a r ds a p a rt w h en t h is h a p p e n e d. A c c o r d i ng to A c c u s ed (in h is e v i d e n c e - i n - c h i e f) at t he p l a ce w h e re t he f i g ht t o ok p l a ce he s h o w ed t he p o l i ce t he s t o ne he u s ed on D e c e a s ed a nd t he D e c e a s e d 's i r on r o d, A c c u s ed s a ys he a l so m e n t i o n ed to t he p o l i ce t he k n i fe t he D e c e a s ed h a d. T he p o l i ce t o ok t he s t o ne a nd t he i r on r od a nd o r d e r ed h im to g et i n to t he p o l i ce v e h i c l e. T he p o l i ce d id n ot c a r e f u l ly l o ok f or t he k n i f e. T he w o rd A c c u s ed u s ed in c o n n e c t i on w i th t he k n i fe is " b a t l i s i s a" w h i ch m e a ns l o ok for t h o r o u g h l y. T he p o l i ce a l so t o ok t he b o dy of D e c e a s ed w i th t h em a nd l e ft it at t he M a f e t e ng m o r t u a r y. T h ey t h en p a s s ed on w i th h im to t he M a f e t e ng C h a r ge O f f i c e. A c c u s ed t o ld t he C o u rt t h at D e c e a s ed w as 6 f e et t a ll a nd r a t h er s l i m. D e c e a s ed w as o v er s i x ty y e a rs of a g e. In g o od -5- h e a l th and s t r o n g. T he C o u rt o b s e r v ed that A c c u s ed is 5 feet 5 i n c h es t a l l, w e ll b u i l t, in good h e a l t h. A c c u s ed is a l so f a i r ly s t r o ng and w as a b le to lift the six k i l o g r am s t o ne w i th o ne h a nd and d e m o n s t r a te h ow he d r o p p ed it on the D e c e a s e d. It w as h o w e v er c l e ar that A c c u s ed c o u ld o n ly lift that s t o ne w i th g r e at d i f f i c u l t y. He could not h a ve m a n a g ed to do so if D e c e a s ed w as w r i g g l i ng and f i g h t i ng b a c k. D u r i ng c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on A c c u s ed said he hit D e c e a s ed w i th that 6 K i l o g r am s t o ne b e c a u se he w a n t ed to be a b le to b r i ng the f i g ht to an end so that he could go to s c h o o l. A c c u s ed d e n i ed he u s ed b o th h a n ds to lift the s t o n e. He said he u s ed o ne h a nd to a v o id c r u s h i ng the D e c e a s e d 's s k u l l. A c c u s ed d e s c r i p t i on of h ow he d r o p p ed t he s t o ne on D e c e a s ed d o es not g i ve the i m p r e s s i on that D e c e a s ed was a b le to m o v e. He s a ys he put his k n ee on the chest of the D e c e a s ed in o r d er to u se the s t o n e. T he D e c e a s ed a c c o r d i ng to t he A c c u s ed w as t r y i ng to u se h is left h a nd to get up w h i le the o t h er hand w h i ch had a k n i fe w as p i n n ed d o wn by the A c c u s ed w i th h is left h a n d. T h is in my v i ew w o u ld h a ve m a de it d i f f i c u lt for a c c u s ed to lift the 6 k i l o g r a ms s t o ne w i th o ne h a n d. T h is may not be an a c c u r a te d e s c r i p t i on of w h at h a p p e n e d. W h en A c c u s ed w as a s k ed in c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on w h e t h er he e v er -6- t o ld a n y b o dy a b o ut t he k n i fe t h at D e c e a s ed h a d, A c c u s ed s a id he n e v er t o ld a n y b o d y. A c c u s ed s a id he f i r st m e n t i o n ed t he k n i fe b e f o re t he p o l i ce at M a f e t e ng C h a r ge O f f i ce a f t er t he D e c e a s e d 's b o dy h ad b e en l e ft at t he M a f e t e ng m o r t u a r y. He n e v er t o ld t he p o l i ce a b o ut t he k n i fe at V an R o o y e n 's G a t e, t he h e a d m an of t he v i l l a ge a nd t he M a f e t e ng p o l i ce at t he p l a ce w h e re t he f i g ht h ad t a k en p l a ce in t he v i l l a ge of H e r m o n. In o t h er w o r ds at t he s c e ne of c r i me w h e re t he k n i fe s h o u ld h a ve b e en l o o k ed f o r, it w as n e v er m e n t i o n ed to t he p o l i c e, He o n ly m e n t i o n ed the s t o ne E x h i b it " 1" a nd t he a l u m i n i um r od of t he D e c e a s ed E x h i b it " 2 ". A l t h o u gh A c c u s ed s a id t h ey w e re f r i e n d ly w i th D e c e a s e d, A c c u s ed a d m i t t ed u n d er c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on t h at t h ey h ad f o u g ht b e f o r e. T he c a u se of t h at f i g ht w as t h at A c c u s ed h ad t o ld t he p o l i ce t h at he s u s p e c t ed D e c e a s ed of k i l l i ng h is s h e e p. F or t h at r e a s on D e c e a s ed a t t a c k ed A c c u s e d. At f i r st A c c u s ed s a id he d id n ot d e f e nd h i m s e l f. L a t er he s a id he d i d. T h is in my v i ew g i v es t he i m p r e s s i on t h at D e c e a s ed a nd t he A c c u s ed w e re n ot on t he b e st of t e r ms a l t h o u gh t h ey h ad to l i ve as n e i g h b o u r s. D e c e a s ed w as c a r r y i ng a l i g ht a l u m i n i um r o d. T h is is on .54 k i l o g r a m. It is n ot as h e a vy as s t i c ks t h at B a s o t ho p e o p le c a r ry f or o f f e n s i ve p u r p o s e. A c c o r d i ng to M r. N t l h o ki d u r i ng P. W.1's /. . . -7- c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on it h ad i n f l i c t ed a s m a ll l a c e r a t i on on t he A c c u s e d. A c c u s ed ( w h en he g a ve e v i d e n c e) t o ld t he C o u rt t h at t h is w as a s e r i o us w o u n d. A c c u s ed s t a t ed he h ad s u c c e s s f u l ly p i n n ed d o wn D e c e a s ed b ut w as u n d er p r e s s u re to g et up b e c a u se he h ad to go to s c h o o l. T h at is w hy a m o ng o t h er t h i n gs he h ad to t a ke s t e ps to t e r m i n a te t h e ir f i g ht w i th D e c e a s e d. A s k ed if he r e a l i s ed he m i g ht k i ll D e c e a s ed by h i t t i ng on t he h e a d, h is r e p ly w as t h at he k n o ws w h en t he m an a m an is h it on t he h e ad he s o m e t i m es b e c o m es h e l p l e s s. A c c u s ed a l so c a me o ut w i th t he s t o ry d u r i ng c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on t h at he w as h it by D e c e a s ed w i th a s t o ne on t he t h i g h. t h is w as s o m e t h i ng n e w. D e c e a s e d 's b e h a v i o ur as d e s c r i b ed by A c c u s ed s e e ms i l l o g i c al a nd a b s u r d. If so D e c e a s ed m u st h a ve b e en l o o k i ng f or t r o u b l e. T h is e v i d e n ce on D e c e a s e d 's c h a r a c t er led to a r e v e l a t i on t h at a l t h o u gh D e c e a s ed w as a l l e g ed to be t he a g g r e s s or on t he f i r st o c c a s i on w h en A c c u s ed a nd D e c e a s ed f o u g ht o v er a l l e g a t i o ns m a de by A c c u s ed t h at D e c e a s ed h ad k i l l ed a s h e ep b e l o n g i ng to A c c u s e d, t he m a t t er w e nt to a L o c al C o u r t. T he L o c al C o u rt a c c o r d i ng to t he A c c u s ed u n d er c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on s a id t he L o c al C o u rt w r o n g ly c o n v i c t ed h im a nd f o u nd t h at it w as t he A c c u s ed n ot t he D e c e a s ed w ho w as t he a g g r e s s o r. /. . . -8- It s e e ms to me t h at A c c u s ed by a t t a c k i ng t he c h a r a c t er of D e c e a s ed a nd s h o w i ng h i m s e lf to be the g o od o ne A c c u s ed p a r t i a l ly lost the p r o t e c t i on of S e c t i on 249 of t he C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce Act 10 1 9 8 1. T h is S e c t i on s h o u ld be a p p l i ed w i th f a i r n e s s. A c c u s e d 's p r e v i o us c o n v i c t i o ns or t he f a ct t h at he is b ad c h a r a c t er s h o u ld n ot be d i s c l o s ed u n l e ss he c l a i ms he is of g o od c h a r a c t er and a t t a ck t he c h a r a c t er of the p r o s e c u t or and w i t n e s s es of the p r o s e c t i o n. In t h is c a se t he p r o s e c u t i on w as e n t i t l ed to p ut the r e c o rd s t r a i g ht t h r o u gh c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on to s h ow t h at it w as t he A c c u s ed r a t h er t h an D e c e a s ed w ho h ad b e en the a g g r e s s or on the f i r st o c c a s i on t h at the D e c e a s ed a nd t he A c c u s ed f o u g h t. As it t u r ns o ut if D e c e a s ed w as l a b o u r i ng u n d er a s m o u l d e r i ng r e s e n t m e nt it is n ot i m p r o b a b le t h at he w as the a g g r e s s or on t h is o c c a s i o n. I do n ot t h i nk h ow the f i g ht s t a r t ed is i m p o r t a n t. 1 find it a l so n ot i m p o r t a nt w ho w as t he r e al a g g r e s s o r. T he D e c e a s ed is d e ad he c a n n ot t e ll us h is s i de of t he s t o r y, I w i ll t h e r e f o re a s s u me in t he A c c u s e d 's f a v o ur t h at he a c t ed u n d er p r o v o c a t i on of s o me k i nd w h en he g ot i n to t h is f i g h t. It d o es n ot m e an t h at because he is a l i ve and h as to f a ce t he m u s ic a l o n e, n ow t h at D e c e a s ed is d e a d, he c o u ld n ot h a ve b e en p r o v o k ed by t he D e c e a s ed in s o me w a y, T h e r e f o re I w i ll n ot /. . . a s s u me D e c e a s ed w as n ot r e s p o n s i b le f or t h is f i g h t. T he r e a s on b e i ng t h at in my v i ew D e c e a s ed o u g ht n ot to t h r ow s t o n es at t he A c c u s ed in A c c u s e d 's o wn h o m e, -9- I b e l i e v ed P. W.1 t h at w h en he f i r st s aw t he f i g h t, A c c u s ed w as on t op of D e c e a s ed h i t t i ng h im w i th a f i st a nd t h at D e c e a s ed w as f i g h t i ng b a c k. I n o t e, of c o u r s e, t h at P. W.1 w as a c o n s i d e r a b le d i s t a n ce a w a y. I p r e f er P . W . 1 's v e r s i on t h at A c c u s ed u s ed t wo h a n ds in h i t t i ng D e c e a s ed w i th t he s t o ne E x h i b it " 1 ". A c c u s ed in my v i ew w as n ot d e f e n d i ng h i m s e lf w h en he h it or d r o p p ed a s ix k i l o g r am s t o ne on t he D e c e a s e d. I do h a ve p r o b l e ms w i th A c c u s e d 's s t o ry t h at D e c e a s ed h ad a k n i f e. D e c e a s ed h ad no k n i f e. W h at A c c u s ed a l l e g es is f a l s e. A c c u s e d 's e v i d e n ce is f u ll of c o n t r a d i c t i o ns a nd i m p r o b a b i l i t i es on t h is p o i n t. C o m p a re w h at he s a id in h is e v i d e n c e - i n - c h i ef a nd w h at he s a id u n d er c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n. H is a d m i s s i on t h at he n e v er s a id t h is i m m e d i a t e ly a f t er t he f i g ht b ut s a id t h is at t he p o l i ce s t a t i on in M a f e t e ng m u ch l a t er in t he d ay m a k es me b e l i e ve t h at t h is k n i fe s t o ry w as i n v e n t ed a f t er t he e v e n t, O ne w o u ld e x p e ct t h at f a ct to h a ve b e en d i s c l o s ed i m m e d i a t e ly a f t er t he f i g ht w h en t he s c e ne of c r i me w as c o m b ed f or e x h i b i t s. I n d e ed I h a ve s e r i o us d o u bt w h e t h er A c c u s ed said t h is to t he p o l i ce at M a f e t e ng at a l l. E v en if A c c u s ed said so I c o n s i d er t h at a l l e g a t i on of t he k n i fe to h a ve had r e l a t i v e ly l i t t le v a l ue at t h at s t a g e. -10- F a i l u re to call the p o l i ce in t he h o pe t h at the q u e s t i on w o u ld be put to the p o l i ce a b o ut t he k n i fe d o es n ot c a r ry t he m a t t er f u r t h e r. M r, L e n o no for t he C r o wn r e f e r r ed me to t he c a se of M i l l er v M i n i s t er of P e n s i o ns [ 1 9 4 7] 2 All ER 3 72 at 3 73 w h e re the C o u rt s a i d :- " T he law w o u ld f a il to p r o t e ct t he c o m m u n i ty if it a d m i t t ed f a n c i f ul p o s s i b i l i t i es to d e f l e ct t he c a u se of j u s t i c e ." I t h i nk t h e re is s o me s e n se in t h at b ut it is n ot e n o u gh to c o n v i ct the a c c u s ed on the b a s is t h at he lied a b o ut t he k n i f e, A c c u s ed h as a d m i t t ed in c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i on t h at he d e c i d ed to t e r m i n a te the f i g ht q u i c k ly in order to go to s c h o o l. In u s i ng the h e a vy s t o ne he a c t ed n e g l i g e n t ly to the p o i nt of r e c k l e s s n e s s. T h is is p a r t i c u l a r ly so b e c a u se D e c e a s ed w as d o w n, on t he g r o u nd and the A c c u s ed w as on top of h i m. A c c u s ed f r om h is o wn e v i d e n ce s a ys he had an u p p er h a n d. We c a n n ot i g n o re t he f a ct t h at D e c e a s ed w as e s t i m a t ed by the A c c u s ed to be o v er s i x ty t h r ee y e a rs of a ge w h en A c c u s ed f o r ty t wo y e a rs o l d. W h i ch c o u ld m e an a d i f f e r e n ce of t w e n ty y e a rs b e t w e en t h e ir a g e s. E v en if D e c e a s ed w as a s t r o ng o ld m a n, it is d o u b t f ul if he c o u ld h a ve had t he s t a m i na of a f o r ty t wo y e a rs o ld s u ch as t he A c c u s e d. -11- It is n ot u n r e a s o n a b le to i n f er t h at t he f i st b l o ws t h at A c c u s ed d e l i v e r ed on t he D e c e a s ed m u st h a ve h ad an e f f e ct on t he D e c e a s e d. T h at is w hy A c c u s ed w as a b le to p i ck up t he s t o ne w h i le D e c e a s ed w as s t u p e f i ed by t he b l o ws i n f l i c t ed w i th h is f i s t, A c c u s ed h ad to i n v e nt t he e x i s t e n ce of a k n i fe to j u s t i fy h is u n j u s t i f i ed u se of t he s t o n e. I h a ve v e ry l i t t le d o u bt t h at t he C r o wn h as n ot p r o v ed t he A c c u s ed is g u i l ty of m u r d e r. W i th t he p r o v o c a t i on a nd t he h e at of t he f i g ht t h at e v i d e n ce d i s c l o s es I d o u bt if A c c u s ed h ad t he s u b j e c t i ve i n t e n t i on to k i l l. S ee S v Sigwahla 1 9 6 7 ( 4) SA 5 6 6. T he t e st f or m u r d er is n ot an o b j e c t i ve o n e, it is s u b j e c t i v e. We c a n n ot e x c l u de t he p o s s i b i l i ty t h at t he A c c u s ed w as by t h en so a n g ry t h at h is a n g er b e c l o u d ed h is j u d g m e n t. W h at c a n n ot be d o u b t ed is t h at A c c u s ed w as n e g l i g e nt in u s i ng t he h e a vy s t o n e. If he w as r e c k l e ss I am prepared to g i ve h im t he b e n e f it of t he d o u bt on t h at p o i n t. In o t h er w o r ds I am /.. . -12- not c e r t a in b e c a u se of the anger and state A c c u s ed w a s, if he really a p p r e c i a t ed what he was doing and that he acted r e c k l e s s ly as to w h e t h er such death r e s u l ts or n o t. See S v Mini 1 9 6 3 ( 3) SA 1 8 8. I will not go into the Criminal Law H o m i c i de Amendment P r o c l a m a t i on of 1 9 5 9. It would merely cause c o n f u s i on in this case as it a l w a ys does b e c a u se it is based on E n g l i sh law. It is p o i n t l e ss b e c a u se I have a l r e a dy g i v en the A c c u s ed the b e n e f it of doubt b e c a u se the C r o wn has not proved the r e q u i s i te s u b j e c t i ve f o r e s i g ht of d e a t h. To put the r e q u i r e m e nt in the w o r ds of H o l m es JA in S v Sigwahala ( s u p a r a) at page 5 7 0 E: " to c o n s t i t u te proof beyond the i n f e r e n ce must be the only one w h i ch can r e a s o n a b ly be d r a w n, It cannot be so d r a wn if there is a r e a s o n a b le p o s s i b i l i ty that accused that a c c u s ed did not f o r s e e, e v en if he ought r e a s o n a b ly to have done so. even if he p r o b a b ly did do so." r e a s o n a b le doubt I t h e r e f o re in the light of the a f o r e g o i ng find the a c c u s ed g u i l ty of c u l p a b le h o m i c i d e. W. C. M. M A Q U TU J U D GE for the C r o wn For the A c c u s e d: M r. M. Ntlhoki ; Mr. A. M. Lenono SENTENCE -13- I h a ve l i s t e n ed to M r. N t l h o ki w ho has m a de the f o l l o w i ng p o i n ts in h is p l ea in m i t i g a t i on of s e n t e n c e: 1. T he A c c u s ed h as w a i t ed in a g o ny for o v er e i g ht y e a rs for h is t r i a l. 2. He had no c r i m i n al r e c o rd of m u r d er up to that t i m e. 3. He has b e en a t e a c h er w ho w as the s o le b r e a d w i n n er of his f a m i l y. 4. I m p r i s o n m e nt of o v er t h r ee m o n t hs will lead to the loss of his job as a t e a c h e r. 5. T en head of c a t t le will be c l a i m ed a g a in him as d a m a g es for the d e a th of D e c e a s e d. 6. A c c u s ed has told him he is s o r ry that he c a u s ed the d e a th of D e c e a s e d. /. . . 7. ' A c c u s ed is now a man of 50 y e a rs of age w h en he committed the crime he was only 42 years old. -14- I have taken into a c c o u nt what M r. N t l h o ki has said but to take only the personal c i r c u m s t a n c es of the Accused into a c c o u nt and d i s r e g a rd those of D e c e a s ed and his family would not be fair. T a k i ng the personal c i r c u m s t a n c es of the Accused is done as an end of society. T h e re are other ends and e x p e c t a t i o ns of s o c i e ty that the court has to take into account as w e l l. Deceased had a family and r e l a t i v es that mourned his death too. He must have been a b r e a d w i n n er w i t h in his m e a n s, the r e l a t i v es of D e c e a s ed are looking to the Court to i m p o se a s e n t e n ce that will show it a p p r e c i a t es that the life of D e c e a s ed was sacred too. If D e c e a s ed was g e n u i n e ly sorry he should have pleaded guilty to C u l p a b le H o m i c i de from the very b e g i n n i n g. Saying he is sorry at the end of a trial which took several d a ys d o es not help very m u c h. N e v e r t h e l e ss it is o b v i o us that he must have been sorry after his anger had s u b s i d e d. What is r e g r e t t a b le is only that he took a c h a n ce and went for an a c q u i t t al in o r d er not to avoid taking his p u n i s h m e n t. This is h u m an and u n d e r s t a n d a b l e, /. . . -15- T he C o u rt in its s e n t e n c es m u st r e f l e ct the a t t i t u de of r i g h t - t h i n k i ng p e o p l e. R e t r i b u t i on is by no m e a ns an o b s o l e te c o n s i d e r a t i o n. A l t h o u gh d e t e r r e n ce m ay not a l w a ys r e s u lt from p u n i s h m e n t, the e x p e c t a t i o ns of r e l a t i v es of d e c e a s ed that t h o se that h a ve taken the life their loved one s h o u ld be p u n i s h ed m u st not be i g n o r ed lest they take the law into their h a n d s. R v K a rz 1 9 6 1 ( 1) SA 2 3 1. N e v e r t h e l e ss this Court has a duty to see that r i g h t e o us anger does not b e c l o ud j u d g m e n t. P u n i s h m e nt m u st be j u s t, a d e q u a te and b a l a n c e d. H a v i ng taken all. t h e se f a c t o rs into c o n s i d e r a t i on the A c c u s ed is s e n t e n c ed to four y e a rs i m p r i s o n m e n t. W . C . M, M A Q U TU J U D GE