S v Stuurman (80060) [2008] ZAECHC 119 (7 May 2008)
- Citation
- [2008] ZAECHC 119
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- South Africa
- Court
- High Courts - Eastern Cape
- Panel
- Liebenberg R, Jansen R
- Case number
- 080060
More details
- Court
- High Courts - Eastern Cape
- Panel
- Liebenberg R, Jansen R
- Case number
- 080060
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the accused intended to plead guilty to the alternative charge of possession or use of cannabis, not to the main charge of dealing in cannabis. The magistrate's record incorrectly reflected conviction on the main charge due to oversight. The magistrate provided reasons confirming the conviction should have been on the alternative charge and requested correction of the record. The court held that it was appropriate to amend the record to reflect conviction on the alternative charge and confirmed that the sentence imposed was in accordance with the law for the alternative charge. The conviction and sentence were thus regular and the record was ordered to be corrected.
Court disposition
Conviction amended to reflect the alternative charge; sentence confirmed.
Orders
- The words 'soos aangekla' following the entry of 'guilty' on the record are deleted and replaced with 'on the alternative charge'.
- The sentence is confirmed.
02
Material facts
Parties
Johannes Stuurman
AppellantStaat
RespondentAmounts and remedies
- Sentence (imprisonment): ZAR 12
03
Procedural history
Posture
Review Application / Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the accused was correctly convicted on the alternative charge of possession or use of cannabis rather than the main charge of dealing in cannabis.
- 02
Whether the record should be corrected to reflect the conviction on the alternative charge.
- 03
Whether the sentence imposed was appropriate for the alternative charge.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The accused pleaded guilty and intended to plead guilty to the alternative charge of possession or use of cannabis, not to the main charge of dealing in cannabis. The record incorrectly reflects conviction on the main charge due to a clerical error.
- Respondent
- The magistrate acknowledged the error and requested that the record be corrected to reflect conviction on the alternative charge. The sentence imposed was appropriate for the alternative charge.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Section 5(b) and Section 4(b) of Act 140 of 1992
A conviction must accurately reflect the charge to which the accused pleaded guilty and was found guilty.
- 02
S v Mshengu 2009 (2) SACR 316 (SCA)
The court may correct the record to reflect the true nature of the conviction where a clerical error has occurred.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the accused intended to plead guilty to the alternative charge of possession or use of cannabis, not to the main charge of dealing in cannabis. The magistrate's record incorrectly reflected conviction on the main charge due to oversight. The magistrate provided reasons confirming the conviction should have been on the alternative charge and requested correction of the record. The court held that it was appropriate to amend the record to reflect conviction on the alternative charge and confirmed that the sentence imposed was in accordance with the law for the alternative charge. The conviction and sentence were thus regular and the record was ordered to be corrected.
Obiter and limits
- It is important that court records accurately reflect the proceedings and findings to avoid prejudice to the accused.
- Clerical errors in recording convictions should be promptly corrected to ensure justice is served.
Court disposition
Conviction amended to reflect the alternative charge; sentence confirmed.
- The words 'soos aangekla' following the entry of 'guilty' on the record are deleted and replaced with 'on the alternative charge'.
- The sentence is confirmed.
Source and reliance status
High Courts - Eastern Cape
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
High Courts - Eastern Cape
Judgment
FORM
A
FILING
SHEET FOR SOUTH EASTERN CAPE LOCAL DIVISION JUDGMENT
PARTIES:
STAAT
TEEN
JOHANNES
STUURMAN
Case Number: 080060 High Court: SUID-OOS KAAPSE PLAASLIKE AFDELING
DATE HEARD: 7 May 2008
DATE DELIVERED: 7 May 2008
JUDGE(S): LIEBENBERG R, JANSEN R
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES â
Appearances:
For the Appellants(s):
for the Respondent(s):
Instructing attorneys:
Appellant(s) Respondent(s):
CASE INFORMATION -
Nature of proceedings : Review
Topic:
Key Words:
IN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF VAN SUID-AFRIKA
(SUID-OOS KAAPSE PLAASLIKE AFDELING)
HERSIENINGSNR: 080060
DATUM GELEWER:
IN DIE SAAK TUSSEN:
JOHANNES STUURMAN
HERSIENINGSUITSPRAAK
LIEBENBERG, R:
Die beskuldigde in hierdie saak was voor die landdros Uitenhage aangekla van Å oortreding van artikel 5 (b) van Wet 140 van 1992 (die âWetâ) naamlik dat hy handel gedryf het in dagga. In die alternatief was hy aangekla van Å oortreding van artikel 4 (b) van die Wet naamlik die besit of gebruik van dagga. Die beskuldigde het skuldig gepleit en volgens sy antwoorde op ondervraging van die landdros was dit duidelik dat hy op die alternatief wou skuldig pleit. Volgens die aantekening wat die landdros daarna op die rekord gemaak het, hy by die beskuldigde skuldig gevind âsoos aangeklaâ. Dit het die uitwerking dat die beskuldigde skuldig bevind sou wees aan die hoofklagte naamlik handel in dagga.
Op grond van Å navraag deur my het die landdros redes verstrek. Dit blyk uit die redes dat hy inderdaad die beskuldigde aan die alternatief skuldig bevind het maar weens Å oorsig aan sy kant aangeteken het dat die beskuldigde skuldig bevind word âsoos aangeklaâ. Hy vra dan dat die rekord reggestel word deur die woorde âsoos aangeklaâ te vervang met âskuldig : alternatiewe klagteâ. Na my oordeel sou dit voldoende wees om die woorde âsoos aangeklaâ te vervang met die woorde âop die alternatiwe klagteâ .
Ek het ook redes van die landdros gevra vir die vonnis van 12 maande gevangenisstraf indien die skuldigbevinding op die alternatiewe klagte sou wees. Die landdros het hierdie redes verstrek vir vonnis in die lig daarvan dat sy skuldigbevinding inderdaad bedoel was om op die alternatiewe klagtes te wees. Ek is tevrede dat die oplegging van die vonnis ooreenkomstig die reg was en dat die regstelling van die rekord soos deur die landdros versoek, moet geskied.
BEVEL:
Die woorde âsoos aangeklaâ wat volg na die aantekening van die woord skuldig woord op die rekord deurgehaal en vervang met die woorde âop die alternatiewe klagte.â Die vonnis word bekragtig.
________
H.J.
LIEBENBERG
REGTER VAN
DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF
JANSEN R:
EK STEM SAAM.
_________
J.C.H.
JANSEN
REGTER
VAN DIE HOOGGEREGSHOF
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