R v Lefu (C of A (CRI) 6 of 2011) [2012] LSCA 19 (27 April 2012)

IN THE COUR T OF AP P E AL OF LE S OTHO C OF A (CR I) NO.6 / 2 0 1 1 In th e m a tter b etween : TAU LE F U AP P E LLANT R E X COR AM: AND RAMODIBE DI, P HOWIE , J A TE E LE , AJ A HE AR D: DE LIVE R E D: 1 1 APRIL 2 0 1 2 2 7 APRIL 2 0 1 2 R E S P ONDE NT S UMMA R Y Crim in a l La w – S en te n ce – Prin ciple s th e reof – Appellan t effectiv e ly s en te n ce d to 3 6 y e ars im pris on m e n t for d ou ble m u rd e r – S u ch s en te n ce s o exce s s iv e as to be gros s ly d is proportion a te to th e offen ces ch arge d in th e circu m s ta n ce s of th e cas e – Appe al aga in s t s en te n ce u ph e ld a n d th e s en te n ce effectiv e ly red u ce d to 2 0 y e ars im pris on m e n t. J UDGME NT R AMODIBE DI P [1 ] Th e a p p ella n t in t h is m a tt er wa s in d icted in th e High Cou r t on two cou n ts of t h e d ou b le m u r d er of Mos h oes h oe Pitik oe Mos h oes h oe (“t h e d ecea s ed ”) a n d t h e la tt er ’s t h r ee m on t h old b a b y, n a m ely, Nk u eb e Mos h oes h oe (“t h e b a b y”) r es p ectively. He fa ced a fu r t h er ch a r ge of u n la wfu l p os s es s ion of a 9 m m p is t ol in con tr a ven tion of s 3 (1 ) of t h e In ter n a l Secu r ity (Ar m s a n d Am m u n ition ) Act No. 1 7 of 1 9 6 6 r ea d wit h s 8 of t h e In ter n a l Secu r it y Act No. 4 of 1 9 9 9 , (Am en d m en t) Act . Th es e offen ces wer e a lleged t o h a ve ta k en p la ce in or a b ou t 9 Novem b er 2 0 0 5 a n d a t or n ea r Lik otin g Ha -Nyen ye in Ler ib e d is tr ict . [2 ] Th e a p p ella n t wa s fou n d gu ilty a s ch a r ged on a ll t h e t h r ee cou n ts . He wa s s en t en ced a s follows :- Cou n t I (m u r d er ): 1 8 yea r s im p r is on m en t. Cou n t II (m u r d er ): 1 8 yea r s im p r is on m en t . Cou n t III (u n la wfu l p os s es s ion of a fir ea r m ): a fin e of M5 0 0 .0 0 or 6 m on t h s im p r is on m en t in d efa u lt of p a ym en t . Th e s en ten ces on t h e fir s t two cou n ts wer e or d er ed t o r u n con s ecu tively. Th e s en t en ce on t h e la s t cou n t wa s or d er ed t o r u n con cu r r en tly wit h t h e s en t en ces on t h e fir s t two cou n ts . Th e a p p ella n t h a s a p p ea led t o t h is Cou r t on t h e s in gle gr ou n d t h a t t h e effective s en ten ce in qu es tion is s ever e a n d t h a t it in d u ces a s en s e of s h ock . [3 ] Befor e d eter m in in g t h e a p p r op r ia t en es s or ot h er wis e of t h e s en ten ce im p os ed b y t h e cou r t a qu o it is n eces s a r y t o give a b r ief ou t lin e of t h e r eleva n t fa cts . It wa s t h e ca s e of t h e Cr own t h a t on t h e fa t efu l d a y in qu es tion t h e d ecea s ed wa s s ittin g u n d er a tr ee a t h is r en ted p r em is es . He wa s h old in g t h e b a b y in h is a r m s wr a p p ed in a wh ite b a b y b la n k et . Th e t wo wer e fa cin g ea ch ot h er . Su d d en ly t h e a p p ella n t a p p r oa ch ed t h e d ecea s ed . He wa s h ea r d excla im in g “h e y y ou m a n !!!.” He t h en s h ot t h e d ecea s ed a n d t h e b a b y wit h a 9 m m p is t ol. Th er e wer e fou r gu n r ep or ts in a ll. Th e d ecea s ed fell t o t h e gr ou n d in a p ool of b lood . He d ied on t h e s p ot . Th e b a b y wa s in ju r ed t oo in t h e p r oces s a n d wa s ta k en t o h os p it a l b u t s a d ly d ied on t h e s a m e d a y. [4 ] Th e p olice collect ed fou r 9 m m s h ells a n d on e s p en t b u llet fr om t h e s cen e of t h e cr im e. Th ey exa m in ed t h e d ecea s ed ’s b od y wh ich h a d s u s ta in ed b u llet in ju r ies . Th er e wer e two wou n d s on t h e ch es t a r ea , on e wou n d on t h e r ib a r ea , on e wou n d a t t h e b a ck a r ou n d t h e wa is t a n d a n ot h er wou n d a t t h e b a ck t owa r d s t h e m id d le of t h e s h ou ld er s . Th e b a b y h a d a n en t r y b u llet wou n d a t t h e b a ck . [5 ] Th e p os t -m or tem r ep or t es t a b lis h ed t h a t t h e d ecea s ed ’s d ea t h wa s d u e to t h e d es tr u ction of t h e lu n g tis s u e a n d h ea r t a s well a s a cu t e r es p ir a t or y a n d cir cu la t or y fa ilu r e. Th er e wer e th r ee p en etr a tin g gu n s h ot wou n d s on t h e a n ter ior ch es t . Th es e exit ed a t t h e b a ck . Th e p os t -m or t em r ep or t of t h e b a b y on t h e ot h er h a n d es t a b lis h ed t h a t t h e ca u s e of d ea t h wa s d u e t o t h e m u ltip le d es tr u ction of t h e in ter n a l or ga n s r es u ltin g in s ever e b lood los s . [6 ] In h is d efen ce t h e a p p ella n t cla im ed t h e own er s h ip of t h e r en t ed p r em is es in qu es tion . He tes tified t h a t h e h a d m er ely gon e to t h e p r em is es in t h e com p a n y of on e S et op a to r ep a ir t h e d oor lock s . He in tr od u ced h im s elf t o t h e d ecea s ed a n d d em a n d ed t o k n ow wh y h e wa s on t h e p r em is es . He cla im ed t h a t t h e d ecea s ed a tt a ck ed h im wit h a k n ife. He left , b u t on ly to r etu r n la ter in or d er t o lock t h e d oor s . On t h is occa s ion t h e d ecea s ed r u s h ed a t h im . He b eca m e fr igh t en ed t h a t t h e la ter m igh t k ill h im . He t h en p u lled t h e gu n wh ich wa s in h is p os s es s ion a n d s h ot t h e d ecea s ed . He s a id h e wa s n ot a wa r e t h a t t h e d ecea s ed wa s ca r r yin g a b a b y. [7 ] As ca n b e s een , t h e a p p ella n t tr ied t o r a is e s elf- d efen ce. Th e cou r t a qu o h owever cor r ectly, in m y view, r eject ed t h is d efen ce. It wa s s im p ly p a t h etic. It is com m on ca u s e t h a t t h e d ecea s ed wa s u n a r m ed for t h a t m a tt er . It follows t h a t t h e a p p ella n t wa s cor r ectly con victed . [8 ] Th is Cou r t h a s r ep ea ted ly s t a ted t h a t s en t en ce is a m a t ter wh ich lies p r e-em in en tly wit h in t h e d is cr etion of t h e tr ia l cou r t . S u ch a d is cr etion , h owever , is a ju d icia l d is cr etion wh ich m u s t b e exer cis ed u p on a con s id er a tion of a ll t h e r eleva n t fa ct or s . It is n ot a n a r b itr a r y d is cr etion . As a m a tt er of fu n d a m en t a l p r in cip le a n a p p ella t e cou r t is r elu cta n t t o in ter fer e wit h s en t en ce u n les s t h er e is a m is d ir ection or s ta r tlin g s en t en ce d is p a r ity r es u ltin g in a m is ca r r ia ge of ju s tice. [9 ] It is es s en tia l, too, to ca u tion a ga in s t a p p r oa ch in g s en t en ce in a s p ir it of a n ger s in ce t h a t wou ld m a k e it d ifficu lt for t h e s en t en cer t o b a la n ce t h e tr ia d con s is tin g of t h e offen ce, t h e offen d er a n d t h e in ter es t s of s ociety. See S v Zin n 1 9 6 9 (2 ) SA 5 3 7 (A) a t 4 5 1 . [1 0 ] It is fu r t h er wor th n otin g t h a t in ter m s of s 9 (4 ) of t h e Cou r t of Ap p ea l Act 1 9 7 8 , t h is Cou r t h a s a d d ition a l p ower t o im p os e a n a p p r op r ia t e s en t en ce if it t h in k s t h a t a d iffer en t s en ten ce s h ou ld h a ve b een p a s s ed . See, for exa m p le, s u ch ca s es a s R v Le b in a a n d An o t h e r 2 0 0 0 – 2 0 0 4 LAC 4 6 4 ; R a m a e m a v R 2 0 0 0 – 2 0 0 4 LAC 7 1 0 ; R v S h o a e p a n e 2 0 0 5 – 2 0 0 6 LAC 5 3 0 ; R a n t h it h i a n d An o t h e r v R ; R v R a n t h it h i a n d Ot h e r s 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8 LAC 2 4 5 ; R v Th e ja n e 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8 LAC 4 2 0 . [1 1 ] As will b e r em em b er ed fr om p a r a gr a p h [2 ] a b ove, t h e s en ten ces a ga in s t t h e a p p ella n t on t h e fir s t two cou n t s wer e or d er ed to r u n con s ecu tively. Wh a t t h is m ea n s is t h a t t h e a p p ella n t wa s s en ten ced to a n effective cu m u la tive s en t en ce of 3 6 yea r s im p r is on m en t . For t h e r ea s on s wh ich will b ecom e a p p a r en t s h or tly, I h a ve n o h es it a tion in com in g t o t h e con clu s ion t h a t t h e s en t en ce wa s s o exces s ive a s t o b e gr os s ly d is p r op or tion a t e t o t h e offen ces ch a r ged in t h e cir cu m s t a n ces of t h e ca s e. Th e in d ict m en t s h ows t h a t t h e a p p ella n t wa s 4 9 yea r s of a ge wh e n h e com m it ted t h e offen ces in qu es tion . He wa s 5 5 yea r s old wh en h e wa s s en ten ced t o a n effective p er iod of 3 6 yea r s im p r is on m en t . Th is m ea n s t h a t h e wou ld lea ve p r is on a t t h e a ge of 7 1 yea r s , if h e wa s lu ck y t o live t h a t lon g. [1 2 ] In t h e Bot s wa n a Cou r t of Ap p ea l in Ch r is t ia n Ba s h in y a n a Ga b o r e k we v Th e S t a t e , Cr im in a l Ap p e a l No . CLCLB – 0 7 2 -0 8 (r e p o r t e d o n lin e u n d e r S v Ga b o r e k we (CLCLB – 0 7 2 -0 8 ) [2 0 0 9 ] BWCA 6 7 9 2 9 J u ly 2 0 0 9 ), I h a d occa s ion t o s ta te t h e followin g (Moor e AJ P a n d Howie J A con cu r r in g):- “[4 ] In th e le ad in g cas e of Moa t s h e v T h e S t a t e ; Mot s h w a r i A n d An ot h e r v T h e S t a t e [2 0 0 4 ] 1 B LR 1 CA (Fu ll B en ch ), th is Cou rt la id d ow n th e fu n d a m e n ta l prin ciple th a t w h e re th e cu m u la tiv e effect of con s ecu tiv e s e n ten ce s is s o exce s s iv e a s to be gros s ly d is proportion a te to th e offen ces ch arge d , th is a m ou n ts to in h u m an or d egra d in g pu n is h m e n t. In th a t s e n s e it v iola te s s 7 (1 ) of th e Con s titu tion w h ich prov id e s th a t n o pe rs on s h a ll be s u bje cte d to tortu re or in h u m an or d e grad in g pu n is h m e n t or oth e r tre a tm e n t. In fa irn e s s to Mr Mod ie for th e s ta te , h e re ad ily con ced e d , an d properly s o in m y v ie w , th a t th e [n a m e ly 3 0 y e ars s en te n ce s im pris on m e n t] ru n fou l of th is prin ciple . Noth in g fu rth e r n ee d be s a id s av e to poin t ou t th a t th e cas e of Mot s h w a r i v T h e S t a t e ; Mot s h w a r i An d A n ot h e r v T h e S t a t e (s u pra) h a s be en follow e d in s u ch ca s e s a s Ma t lh o v T h e S t a t e 2 0 0 8 (1 ) BLR 8 4 (CA ); T s h os a v T h e S t a t e 2 0 0 8 (CA ); Mok oe n a v T h e S t a t e 2 0 0 8 (1 ) B LR (1 ) B LR 9 2 1 5 1 (CA ); Moa t s h e v T h e S t a t e 2 0 0 8 (1 ) B LR 1 7 5 (CA ).” th e pre s e n t m a tte r in [1 3 ] Now, t h e r eleva n ce of t h e Bots wa n a ca s es on t h e p oin t lies in t h e fa ct t h a t s 7 (1 ) of t h e Bot s wa n a Con s tit u tion is id en tica l, wor d for wor d , t o s 8 (1 ) of ou r Con s tit u tion . Bot h s ection s p r ovid e a s follows :- “No pe rs on s h all be s u bje cte d to tortu re or to in h u m a n or d e grad in g pu n is h m e n t or oth e r tre a tm e n t.” [1 4 ] Ad m it ted ly, t h e a p p ea l in t h e p r es en t m a t ter wa s n ot a r gu ed on t h e b a s is of s 8 (1 ) of t h e Con s t itu tion . I a m p r ep a r ed , h owever , t o a d op t t h e p r in cip le t h a t wh er e s en t en ce is s o exces s ive a s to b e gr os s ly d is p r op or tion a te t o t h e offen ces ch a r ged t h e a p p ella te cou r t is en titled t o in ter fer e a n d p a s s a n a p p r op r ia te s en t en ce. If a u t h or ity b e r equ ir ed for t h is p r op os ition it is s 9 (4 ) of t h e Cou r t of Ap p ea l Act . Th is is s u ch a ca s e. [1 5 ] In m y view, t h e cou r t a qu o m is d ir ected it s elf in a t lea s t two fu n d a m en t a l r es p ect s in s en t en cin g t h e a p p ella n t, n a m ely:- (1 ) In fa ilin g t o t a k e in to a ccou n t p r ovoca tion d es p ite t h e cou r t’s fin d in g t o t h a t effect a t t h e s ta ge of ext en u a tin g cir cu m s t a n ces . At t h a t s t a ge t h e cou r t h a d m a d e t h e followin g fin d in g:- “I h av e als o fou n d th a t a n e x te n u a tin g factor d oe s ex is t in th is cas e n a m e ly , th e accu s e d ’s be lief th a t th e pre m is e s th a t th e d e ce as e d w a s ren tin g are h is a n d th a t th is gav e h im th e righ t to go an d re pa ir a n d / or ch an ge th e lock s to th e d oor if re s is te d .” It is es s en tia l t o s tr es s t h a t exten u a tin g cir cu m s t a n ces a n d t h e im p os ition of s en ten ce a r e com p letely d iffer en t s ta ges in t h e cou r s e of a cr im in a l tr ia l. (2 ) In fa ilin g t o r ecogn is e t h a t t h e s h ootin g of t h e b a b y wa s in fa ct on e s in gle tr a n s a ction wit h t h e d ecea s ed ’s s h ootin g. [1 6 ] It follows fr om t h e for egoin g t h a t it is n eces s a r y to a m elior a t e t h e h a r s h n es s of t h e cu m u la tive effect of t h e s en t en ces im p os ed on t h e a p p ella n t b y a d op tin g a d evice t h a t p a r t of t h e s en t en ce on cou n t II s h ou ld r u n con cu r r en tly wit h t h e s en ten ce on cou n t I a s p r op os ed in t h e or d er b elow. It m u s t b e s t r es s ed , h owever , t h a t m u r d er is a ver y s er iou s offen ce wh ich wa s com m it ted in cir cu m s t a n ces b a r ely ext en u a tin g. Th e a p p ella n t d es er ves to b e p u n is h ed s ever ely b u t p r op or tion a tely t o t h e offen ces ch a r ged . [1 7 ] Doin g t h e b es t I ca n in b a la n cin g t h e tr ia d b etween t h e offen ce, t h e offen d er a n d t h e in ter es t s of s ociety in t h e cir cu m s t a n ces of t h is ca s e , I con s id er t h a t ju s tice wou ld b e s er ved b y or d er in g t h a t 1 6 yea r s im p r is on m en t of t h e s en ten ce im p os ed on t h e a p p ella n t on cou n t II s h ou ld r u n con cu r r en tly wit h t h e s en t en ce of 1 8 yea r s im p r is on m en t on cou n t I s o t h a t t h e effective s en t en ce is 2 0 yea r s im p r is on m en t . [1 8 ] In t h e r es u lt t h e a p p ea l is u p h eld . Th e followin g or d er is m a d e:- (1 ) 1 6 yea r s im p r is on m en t of t h e s en ten ce im p os ed on t h e a p p ella n t on cou n t II will r u n con cu r r en t ly wit h t h e s en t en ce on cou n t I. (2 ) Th e s en ten ces on cou n ts I a n d 3 r es p ectively a r e con fir m ed . (3 ) Th e a p p ella n t will s er ve a n effective s en ten ce of 2 0 yea r s im p r is on m en t . ____________________________ M. M. R AMODIBE DI PR E SIDE NT OF THE COUR T OF AP PE AL I a gr ee: _________________________ C. T. H OWIE J US TICE OF AP PE AL I a gr ee: _________________________ M. E . TE E LE ACTING J US TICE OF AP PE AL F o r t h e Ap p e lla n t : Ad v. M. J . Ra m p a i F o r t h e R e s p o n d e n t : Ad v. M. Tla li