Public Prosecutor v Saute [2001] VUSC 10; Criminal Case No 002 of 2001 (21 February 2001)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF
THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
HELD AT PORT VILA

Criminal Jurisdiction
Criminal Case No. 02 of 2001

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR span>

-v-

Kasto Saute

Mr. T. Gardner for the Prosecution
Mr.K. Loughman for the Defence

SENTENCE

I give credit for a plea of guilty and the fact you have no previous convictions. I accept you did not mean to go out and cause trouble. But you were drunk. If you get drunk you do things which you regret later. I accept you are sorry. But you must not drink so much you cannot control yourself. You have tried to settle this matter in custom.

It was frightening for those people to have at 5 am someone in their yard, drunk, with a stick and hitting cut. You broke a woman’s arm.

If this case had come before me in a reasonable time I would send you to prison today. But it is over a year old, you admitted the offence to the police in three weeks of it happening.

Count1 I will impose a sentence of 6 months prison suspended for 2 years. Effect explained.

Count2 Compensation Vt. 15,000 payable to Roberta John. Pay by 30 April 2001. Realise no job and will have to seek help/ get job

Problems, come back to Court.

Informed of Right of Appeal.

DATED at Port Vila this 21^st day of February 2001

R.J. COVENTRY
Judge