Crown v Maboee and Others (C of A (CRI) 7 of 2010) [2012] LSCA 12 (27 April 2012)

IN THE COUR T OF AP PE AL OF LE S OTH O C OF A (CRI) NO. 7 OF 2 0 1 0 In t h e m a t ter b etween : THE CR OWN AP PE LLANT F IR S T R E S PONDE NT SE COND R E S P ONDE NT THIR D R E S P ONDE NT F OUR TH R E S P ONDE NT F IF TH R E S PONDE NT SIXTH R E S P ONDE NT SE VE NTH R E S P ONDE NT a n d R ASE LE BE LI MABOE E ANTIPASE SE LOMO THAPE LO NTAOPANE MALE F ANE THAMAE MOCHE MA MOCHE MA MONYANE MOKOATS I BULAR E MOILOA COR AM: S COTT, J A HOWIE , J A FARLAM, J A HE ARD: 1 2 APRIL 2 0 1 2 DE LIVE RE D: 2 7 APRIL 2 0 1 2 S UMMAR Y Cr im in a l la w – com m on p u r p os e in r ela t ion t o a s er ies of offen ces – a d equ a cy of s en t en ces – u n u s u a l cir cu m s t a n ces in t h e wa k e of m ilit a r y in cu r s ion in t o Les ot h o. J UDGME NT HOWIE , J A [1 ] On 2 3 Sep t em b er 1 9 9 8 , h a vin g es ca p ed fr om h os tilities a t Ma k oa n ya n e Milit a r y Ba r r a ck s in Ma s er u in volvin g S ADC tr oop s a n d t h e Les ot h o Defen ce For ce (LDF), a gr ou p of a r m ed m en m a in ly com p r is in g LDF s old ier s com m itt ed a s er ies of a cts a s a r es u lt of wh ich t h e r es p on d en t s (a lleged ly m em b er s of t h e gr ou p a t va r iou s tim es ) wer e ch a r ged in t h e High Cou r t b efor e Nom n gcon go J a n d a s s es s or s on m u ltip le cou n ts . Th e tr ia l b ega n in Au gu s t 2 0 0 5 a n d con clu d ed in J u n e 2 0 1 0 . [2 ] Th e r es p on d en ts wer e a ll con vict ed on two or m or e cou n t s r a n gin g fr om m u r d er a n d r ob b er y to m a liciou s in ju r y t o p r op er ty. Th e h ea vies t s en ten ce im p os ed on a n y of t h em wa s five yea r s im p r is on m en t a n d t h e ligh tes t , 4 yea r s . Th e s en ten ces im p os ed on ea ch wer e or d er ed t o r u n con cu r r en tly. [3 ] Th e Cr own a p p ea led a ga in s t t h e s en ten ces , con t en d in g t h a t t h ey wer e u n d u ly len ien t. Th e a p p ea l evok ed cr os s - a p p ea ls b y t h e r es p on d en t s a ga in s t t h eir con viction s . [4 ] Wit h t h e a id of a com m a n d eer ed Toyot a va n t h e gr ou p p r oceed ed to Ma feten g p olice s ta tion . Th eir a im , a lleged ly, wa s to ob ta in a r m s a n d a m m u n ition t h er e wit h wh ich t h ey wou ld r et u r n to t h e Ba r r a c k s a n d join t h e LDF effor ts a ga in s t t h e SADC in cu r s ion . As it h a p p en ed , d es p it e t h eir h a vin g s u cceed ed in ob t a in in g p olice fir ea r m s a n d a m m u n ition t h ey d id n ot r et u r n t o t h e b a t tle a r en a . In t h e cou r s e of wh a t wa s a n even t -filled d a y t h eir p r ocla im ed fla m e of b elliger en ce in d u e cou r s e flu tt er ed a n d even t u a lly d ied . [5 ] To ob ta in t h e a r m s a n d a m m u n ition t h e p la n wa s t o d ecla r e t h eir ob ject a n d s ecu r e th e wea p on s p ea cefu lly if p os s ib le. If t h er e wa s r es is t a n ce or r eta lia tion t h ey wou ld u s e for ce. Fa ced wit h t h e t h r ea t p os ed b y t h e a r m ed gr ou p a n d t h eir in s is ten t d em a n d t h e p olice ca p itu la t ed a n d op en ed t h eir a r m ou r y. In t h e cou r s e of t h e t a k in g of p olice a r m s a n d a m m u n ition a wom a n m em b er of t h e p olice con tin gen t wa s fa t a lly s h ot b y on e of t h e gr ou p . Th is r es u lted in a ch a r ge of m u r d er (cou n t 1 ). Th e ta k in g of t h e a r m s a n d a m m u n ition wa s th e s u b ject of a ch a r ge of r ob b er y (cou n t 2 ). Th e fir ea r m s s eized wer e r ifles a n d p is tols . Th e r ifles in clu d ed a n AK-4 7 , two M6 5 ’s a n d a n d LMG. [6 ] Fr om t h e p olice s t a tion a r m ed m em b er s of t h e gr ou p d r ove t o t h e Ma feten g Hos p it a l a n d s u b s equ en tly t h e Ma feten g Hotel. At t h e h os p it a l t h ey d em a n d ed a n d t ook m ed ica l s u p p lies a n d a t t h e h ot el, h a vin g d em a n d ed food a n d d r in k , t h ey took , a n d wer e given , a va r iety of d r in k s a n d food . Th es e even t s r es u lt ed in ch a r ges of r ob b er y of t h e h os p ita l s ta ff (cou n t 3 ) a n d r ob b er y of t h e h ot el p er s on n el (cou n t 4 ). [7 ] In t h e cou r s e of t h e even t s r efer r ed to t h u s fa r m em b er s of t h e gr ou p a ls o s h ot a n d d a m a ged fou r p u b lic telep h on es a n d telep h on e b oot h s . Th is led t o a ch a r ge of m a liciou s in ju r y t o p r op er ty (cou n t 5 ). [8 ] Th e d a y’s m a in even ts t er m in a ted in t h e ta k in g of t h r ee Toyot a Hilu x veh icles , on e a t Mots ek u oa a n d two a t t h e Ma t elile r oa d ca m p of t h e Roa d s Im p r ove m en t Un it (RIU). Th e la t t er in cid en t a ls o in clu d ed t h e t a k in g of p etr ol a n d d ies el fu el. Th e con s equ en ce wa s t h e p r efer r in g of two m or e r ob b er y ch a r ges (cou n ts 7 a n d 8 ). [9 ] Th e r es p on d en ts wer e lega lly r ep r es en ted on tr ia l a n d on a p p ea l. Ha vin g p lea d ed n ot gu ilty t o a ll t h e offen ces la id to t h eir ch a r ge t h ey p r offer ed evid en ce a n d a r gu m en ts wh ich r a n ged in d egr ees of u n a ccep ta b ility fr om t h e u n b elieva b le t o t h e fr a n k ly a b s u r d . In t h e r es p ects in wh ich t h e tr ia l cou r t exp r es s ly or im p licitly fou n d a ga in s t t h em on is s u es of cr ed ib ility t h a t is n ot in t h e lea s t s u r p r is in g. Th e p r ed om in a n t is s u es on a p p ea l t h er efor e con cer n t h e s tr en gt h of t h e evid en ce con n ectin g a r es p on d en t to a p a r ticu la r a lleged offen ce. [1 0 ] It is a p p r op r ia te to con s id er t h e con victio n s b efor e d ea lin g wit h t h e Cr own ’s a p p ea l. For con ven ien ce t h e r es p on d en t s will b e r efer r ed t o a s t h e a ccu s ed a n d a ccor d in g t o t h eir n u m b er in g in t h e cou r t b elow. [1 1 ] Th e evid en ce on cou n t 1 , a ccor d in g t o t h e Cr own ’s a r gu m en t , s h owed t h a t t h e d ecea s ed wa s s h ot b eca u s e s h e p os ed a n a p p a r en t t h r ea t a n d t h a t t h is fell wit h in t h e s cop e of t h e p la n to u s e for ce if t h e p olice r es is ted . Relia n ce wa s a ls o p la ced on th e evid en ce of S u p er in ten d en t Ma k a lia n a t h a t h e wa s t old if h e d id n ot co-op er a t e h e a n d ot h er officer s wou ld b e k illed . [1 2 ] Th e tr ia l cou r t ’s r ea s on s for con victin g on t h is cou n t wer e t h a t p olice r es is t a n ce wa s for es een a n d wou ld b e m et wit h for ce. Beca u s e t h e d ecea s ed wa s p er ceived a s a t h r ea t s h e wa s s h ot . Her s h ootin g t h er efor e wa s en com p a s s ed b y t h e com m on p u r p os e, in te r a lia , t o m u r d er . [1 3 ] Th er e is n ot h in g b u t in a d m is s ib le h ea r s a y evid en ce a s to wh o s h ot t h e d ecea s ed s o t h a t on e ca n n ot d eter m in e wh y s h e wa s s h ot . Wh a t is clea r is th a t s h e wa s s h ot a fter t h e p olice h a d ca p it u la ted a n d op en ed t h e a r m ou r y. It wa s n ot s h own to b e p a r t of t h e gr ou p ’s com m on p u r p os e t o s h oot a n yb od y if its ob jective h a d a lr ea d y b een a tt a in ed , a s it in d eed it h a d . It is a ls o clea r t h a t t h e d ecea s ed wa s n ot s h ot b eca u s e s h e wa s tr yin g t o p r even t t h e gr ou p ’s d ep a r t u r e. Th er e is t h er efor e in s u fficien t evid en ce, even if t h e in d ivid u a l p er p etr a t or in ten d ed to k ill, t o lin k a n y r es p on d en t t o h er k illin g b y wa y of t h e d octr in e of com m on p u r p os e. Th e con viction s a n d s en ten ces of a ccu s ed 3 , 7 a n d 8 on cou n t 1 m u s t t h er efor e b e s et a s id e. [1 4 ] Th e ta k in g of t h e p olice a r m s a n d a m m u n ition wa s effected a t gu n p oin t a n d a ccom p a n ied b y t h e t h r ea t to k ill if t h er e wa s r es is t a n ce. Th er e is n o gr ou n d for t h in k in g t h a t t h e gr ou p in ten d ed even tu a lly t o r etu r n a n y of t h es e a r ticles . No cr ed ib le evid en ce es ta b lis h ed or even h in ted a t t h a t in ten tion . On t h e evid en ce it is n ot a r ea s on a b le p os s ib ility. On t h e con tr a r y, a n d on t h e a s s u m p tion t h a t a t s om e in itia l s ta ge of t h eir es ca p a d e t h e gr ou p d id in t en d to r es u m e t h e figh t a ga in s t t h e SADC for ces , t h ey cou ld a t m os t h a ve for es een t h a t t h is wea p on r y wou ld b e a d d ed to t h e s t ock s of t h e LDF to u s e in com b a t . In t h a t even t t h e a m m u n ition wou ld b e con s u m ed . As for t h e fir ea r m s , t h ey wou ld b e u s ed in b a t tle for a s lon g a s t h ey fu n ction ed . If t h ey cea s ed fu n ction in g t h ey wou ld p r ob a b ly h a ve b een ca s t a s id e or wou ld h a ve fa llen t o t h e en em y if t h eir b ea r er s s u ccu m b ed . At b es t for t h e d efen ce t h er e wa s , b y in fer en ce, in d iffer en ce on t h e p a r t of t h e a ccu s ed a s t o t h e even tu a l fa te of t h eir s p oils . Th e elem en ts of r ob b er y wer e t h u s es ta b lis h ed a s r ega r d s cou n t 2 . [1 5 ] Th os e con victed on t h is cou n t wer e a ccu s ed 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 a n d 8 . [1 6 ] Accu s ed 1 wa s a m em b er of t h e Ma feten g p olice. He ten d er ed t h e exp la n a tion t h a t h is in s tr u m en ta lity in a id in g t h e gr ou p wa s in d u ced b y fea r for h is life. His exp la n a tion for d ep a r tin g wit h t h e gr ou p wa s t h a t t h ey p r ovid ed t h e m ea n s b y wh ich h e cou ld es ca p e t h e a tt a ck wh ich h e for es a w wou ld b e la u n ch ed a ga in s t t h e p olice s t a tion b y h ooliga n s . Cr own evid en ce s h owed h im t o h a ve b een a n a ctive a n d willin g s u p p or ter of t h e gr ou p a s d oes t h e evid en ce a s t o la ter even ts . Th e followin g d a y h e wa s s een in p os s es s ion of a n LMG r ifle. His evid en ce wa s n ot r ea s on a b ly p os s ib ly tr u e. He wa s cor r ectly con vict ed on cou n t 2 . [1 7 ] Accu s ed 2 wa s n ot or igin a lly on e of t h e gr ou p . A m em b er of t h e LDF, h e h a d fled t h e figh tin g in Ma s er u a n d h a d com e t o Ma feten g p olice s ta tion t o vis it a r ela tive. On a r r iva l h e a p p a r en tly cu t a d r a b a n d p a t h etic figu r e. On ce t h e gr ou p a r r ived , h owever , h is a t tit u d e ch a n ged . Th e Cr own evid en ce, cor r ectly p r efer r ed t o h is , s h owed h im t o h a ve b ecom e a n a ctive m em b er of t h e gr ou p . In d eed , on t h eir d ep a r t u r e fr om t h e p olice s t a tion h e wa s in p os s es s ion of a p olice AK-4 7 . By in fer en ce it wa s t h e s a m e wea p on h e wa s s een in p os s es s ion of t h r ee d a ys la ter . He, too, wa s cor r ectly con victed on cou n t 2 . [1 8 ] Accu s ed 3 wa s n ot s h own to h a ve com m it ted a n y a ct p er p etr a ted in in ten tion a l fu r t h er a n ce of t h e com m on p u r p os e in r ela tion t o t h is cou n t . He wa s p r es en t a t t h e p olice s ta tion p r em is es b u t s a id h e d id n ot p r oceed wit h t h e gr ou p t o t h e h os p ita l a n d h ot el. He a d m itt ed r ejoin in g t h e gr ou p on t h eir wa y b a ck to Ma s er u a n d s a id t h a t t h eir tr a n s p or t wa s a ll t h a t wa s a va ila b le t o h im . Th e h igh p oin t of t h e Cr own ca s e is t h e evid en ce t h a t for ce wou ld b e u s ed to get a r m s if n eces s a r y a n d t h e evid en ce of Pr iva te Selek e wh o s a id a ccu s ed 3 wa s in p os s es s ion of t wo fir ea r m s a t t h e p olice s ta tion . It wa s p u t to h im in cr os s -exa m in a tion t h a t t h ey wer e a ccu s ed 7 a n d 8 ’s fir ea r m s . He s a id h e cou ld n ot d en y t h a t. As it wa s t h e Cr own ’s ca s e t h a t a ccu s ed 7 d id in d eed lea ve h is fir ea r m ou ts id e t h e p olice p r em is es t h is wou ld len d cr ed en ce to t h e d e fen ce of a ccu s ed 3 . Th e tr ia l cou r t m a d e n o exp r es s cr ed ib ility fin d in gs a d ver s e to h im b u t h is evid en ce t h a t th e p la n d id n ot in clu d e t h e u s e of for ce wa s , b y clea r im p lica tion , r eject ed . However , h is evid en ce t h a t a fter t h e s h ootin g h e took n o fu r t h er p a r t in t h e r eleva n t even ts wa s n ot d ea lt wit h b y t h e tr ia l cou r t . It m a y r ea s on a b ly p os s ib ly b e tr u e t h a t h e wit h d r ew fr om t h e com m on p u r p os e a s a r es u lt of t h a t in cid en t . Never t h eles s , t h e r ob b er y a t t h e p olice s ta tion wa s a ll b u t com p lete b efor e t h e s h ootin g a n d h e wa s t h er efor e cu lp a b ly com p licit in t h e r ob b er y u p t o t h a t s ta ge. Th e ca s e a ga in s t a ccu s ed 3 on t h is cou n t wa s t h er efor e p r oved . His con viction a n d s en t en ce on cou n t 2 m u s t s ta n d . [1 9 ] Th e d efen ce of a ccu s ed 7 a n d 8 on t h is cou n t wa s t h a t t h e a r m s a n d a m m u n ition wer e given fr eely a n d volu n t a r ily. Th ey p er s is ted wit h t h is r id icu lou s s tor y on a p p ea l. It m u s t b e r eject ed . Th eir con viction s on cou n t 2 a r e u n a s s a ila b le. [2 0 ] Cou n t 3 con cer n s t h e even ts a t t h e h os p ita l. Accu s ed 3 wa s con vict ed on t h is cou n t b u t t h e s in gle evid en ce of h is p r es en ce t h er e wa s con t r a d icted b y h is evid en ce t h a t h e h a d b y t h en wit h d r a wn fr om t h e gr ou p ’s a ctivities . In t h e a b s en ce of r ejection b y t h e tr ia l cou r t of t h is evid en ce a fter p r op er con s id er a tion t h e ca s e a ga in s t h im on t h is cou n t wa s n ot p r oved . (Des p it e h is con viction h e wa s n ot in fa ct s en t en ced for t h is offen ce.) His con viction on cou n t 3 m u s t b e s et a s id e. [2 1 ] Th e Cr own evid en ce p r oved con clu s ively t h a t r ob b er y wa s com m itt ed a t t h e h os p it a l a n d t h a t a ccu s ed 7 a n d 8 took lea d in g r oles in its com m is s ion . Th eir d efen ce t h a t t h e m ed ica l s u p p lies wer e fr eely h a n d ed over is , a s a lr ea d y m en tion ed , n ot cr ed ib le. Accu s ed 1 a n d 2 d id n ot en ter t h e b u ild in g b u t wer e p a r t of t h e gr ou p t h a t wen t t h er e. Th e on ly r ea s on a b le in fer en ce is t h a t t h ey k n ew of t h e in ten tion to r ob a n d con tin u ed t h eir a s s ocia tion wit h t h e gr ou p wit h t h e in t en tion t h a t t h e offen ce b e com m itt ed . Accu s ed 1 , 2 , 7 a n d 8 wer e t h er efor e cor r ectly con victed on t h is cou n t. [2 2 ] E s s en tia lly t h e s a m e con s id er a tion s p er t a in t o t h e even ts a t t h e h ot el s a ve t h a t a ccu s ed 1 a n d 2 wer e n ot p u t on t h eir d efen ce on cou n t 4 . Th eir con viction wa s t h u s in con flict wit h t h e lea r n ed J u d ge’s r u lin g a t th e en d of t h e p r os ecu tion ca s e. Ver y p r op er ly, cou n s el for t h e Cr own con ced ed t h a t , in t h es e cir cu m s ta n ces , t h eir con viction s s h ou ld n ot b e u p h eld . I a gr ee. Th er e is n o b a s is on wh ich to d ou b t t h e cor r ect n es s of t h e con viction s of a ccu s ed 7 a n d 8 . [2 3 ] Th er e is s u b s t a n ce in t h e s u b m is s ion b y cou n s el for t h e Cr own t h a t t h e evid en ce a s t o t h e even ts a t t h e h otel, p a r ticu la r ly t h e t a k in g of liqu or a n d t h e cyn ica l r em a r k t h a t t h e h ot el cou ld look t o t h e Pr im e Min is t er for p a ym en t , lea d s s tr on gly to t h e in fer en ce t h a t t h e gr ou p ’s m is s ion b y t h is s t a ge n o lon ger h a d a m ilita r y m otive, if in d eed it ever d id . [2 4 ] Th e s h ootin g of t h e telep h on e b oot h s wh ich followed s er ves to s tr en gt h en t h a t in fer en ce. An y s u gges tion t h a t t h e S ADC op er a tion m igh t in t h e s ligh t es t h a ve b een h a m p er ed b y t h es e a cts of va n d a lis m wou ld b e d ivor ced fr om r ea lity. Accu s ed 7 wa s clea r ly p r oved gu ilty on cou n t 5 . [2 5 ] Th e s u b s equ en t ta k in g of t h e veh icles occu r r ed a fter t h e gr ou p h a d m et a la r ge n u m b er of ot h er LDF m em b er s a t Mots ek u oa in clu d in g a ccu s ed 5 a n d 6 . Th e ot h er s s a id t h ey wer e look in g in va in for p etr ol. Wh a t t h eir d es tin a tion wa s , is u n cer t a in . However , t h e h ot el food wa s u n loa d ed a n d t h os e p r es en t p a r t ook of it. It wa s t h en t h a t t h e RIU Toyota Hilu x, t h e s u b ject of cou n t 7 ca m e on t h e s cen e. Accu s ed 6 s t op p ed it a n d s p ok e to t h e occu p a n ts a fter wh ich t h ey a ligh ted . Accu s ed 2 a n d 5 got in , a ccu s ed 2 b ein g t h e d r iver . Th ey p r oceed ed fr om t h er e t o Ma telile wh er e t h e for m er occu p a n t s of t h e va n s a id t h er e wa s p etr ol t o b e h a d . All t h e ot h er s old ier s t h a t wer e a t Mots ek u oa followed in con voy. At t h e RIU ca m p a t Ma telile t h e a r m ed s old ier s fr igh ten ed t h e wor k er s t h er e in t o s u b m is s ion . Th e in tr u d er s filled t h eir veh icles wit h p etr ol a n d d ies el a n d d em a n d ed m or e veh icles . Th ey even tu a lly s eized two. Fr om t h is p oin t t h e va r iou s veh icles , in s om e of wh ich t h e va r iou s a ccu s ed wh o wer e p r es en t t h er e wer e tr a vellin g, d is p er s ed . Th er e is n o evid en ce t h a t a n y of t h es e p eop le, in clu d in g a n y a ccu s ed , m a d e for t h e s cen e of t h e figh tin g in Ma s er u or in t en d ed t o d o s o. Th ey a p p ea r t o h a ve a ll gon e t h eir s ep a r a t e wa ys . Th e in fer en ce is com p ellin g t h a t a ll con cer n ed wer e in d iffer en t wh et h er t h e veh icles ’ own er s ever r ecover ed t h em . [2 6 ] Accu s ed 5 d id n ot tes tify. Accu s ed 2 a s a lr ea d y m en tion ed wa s a willin g a n d a ctive p a r ticip a n t in t h e in itia l gr ou p a n d n o les s a ctive in t h e even ts a t Mot s ek u oa a n d Ma telile. Accu s ed 6 t ook u p t h e r efr a in of a ccu s ed 7 a n d 8 t h a t t h e veh icles a n d fu el wer e h a n d ed over fr eely a n d volu n t a r ily. Th a t d efen ce is n o les s wor t h y of r ejection in h is ca s e t h a n in t h eir s . It follows t h a t a ccu s ed 2 , 5 a n d 6 wer e cor r ectly con victed on cou n t s 7 a n d 8 . [2 7 ] It r em a in s , a s fa r a s t h e con viction s a r e con cer n ed , t o s a y t h a t cou n s el for t h e a ccu s ed b efor e u s s tr es s ed t h e tr ia l cou r t’s om is s ion t o wa r n its elf of t h e r is k s in h er en t in con victin g on t h e a ccom p lice evid en ce w h ich p r ovid ed t h e m a in s ta y of t h e p r os ecu tion ca s e. It is s ettled la w t h a t s u ch r is k s a r e a d equ a tely s a fegu a r d ed a ga in s t if t h er e is cor r ob or a tion im p lica tin g th e a ccu s ed or b y t h e con s id er a tion t h a t t h e m er its of t h e Cr own evid en ce a n d t h e d em er its of t h e a ccu s ed ’s evid en ce a r e b eyon d qu es tion . Bot h for m s of s a fegu a r d a r e p r es en t in t h is ca s e a n d , in a d d ition , a ccu s ed 5 d id n ot tes tify. [2 8 ] To s u m u p t h e ou t com e of t h e cr os s -a p p ea ls on con viction : Cou n t 1 : Th e cr os s -a p p ea l of a ccu s ed 3 , 7 a n d 8 s u cceed s . Cou n t 3 : Th e cr os s -a p p ea l of a ccu s ed 3 s u cceed s . Cou n t 4 : Th e cr os s -a p p ea ls of a ccu s ed 1 a n d 2 s u cceed . Sa ve a s a b ove, t h e cr os s -a p p ea ls fa il. [2 9 ] Tu r n in g t o t h e Cr own ’s a p p ea l a n d t h e m a t ter of s en t en ce, t h e tr ia l J u d ge b or e in m in d t h e tr a u m a tizin g effect of t h e even ts a t t h e Ba r r a ck s wh ich t h e a ccu s ed , s a ve for a ccu s ed 1 , h a d ea r lier exp er ien ced . He fou n d , h owever , t h a t t h is cou ld n ot ju s tify wh a t t h ey d id a ft er wa r d s . As a ga in s t t h a t, t h e J u d ge con s id er ed t h a t t h e d ela y in b r in gin g t h e m a t ter t o fin a lity m ilit a t ed a ga in s t t h e im p os ition of t h e len gt h y im p r is on m en t s en t en ces for t h e im p os ition of wh ich t h e p r os ecu tion h a d con t en d ed . [3 0 ] Befor e t h is Cou r t, Cr own cou n s el a r gu ed t h a t t h e effective s en ten ces im p os ed wer e in a d equ a te b ea r in g in m in d t h a t a p olice s ta tion wa s d ep let ed of wea p on s in a tim e of t u r m oil wh en t h er e wa s n eed for la w a n d or d er ; t h a t t h e a ccu s ed ’s effor t s h a d n ot h in g t o d o with r ep ellin g in va d er s ; t h a t t h e a ccu s ed , m em b er s of t h e p olice or d efen ce for ces , wer e m ea n t t o u p h old la w a n d or d er , n ot flou t it ; t h a t t h e a t titu d e t h ey d is p la yed a t t h e va r iou s s ites of cr im e evin ced a r r oga n ce a n d d is r ega r d for t h e in t er es ts of t h e r ob b er y victim s ; a n d t h a t n on e h a d d is p la yed a n y r em or s e. Mor eover , it con s tit u t ed a m is d ir ectio n to im p os e t h e s a m e effective s en ten ce on m os t of t h e a ccu s ed . [3 1 ] For t h e a ccu s ed it wa s s u b m itt ed t h a t n o in cr ea s e in s en t en ce wa s ca lled for . An d a ccu s ed 1 , 2 , 3 a n d 5 , wh o cr os s -a p p ea led a ga in s t t h eir s en ten ces , con ten d ed for a r ed u ction in s en ten ce. [3 2 ] It s eem s to m e th a t t h e tr ia l J u d ge’s im p os ition of t h e s a m e effective 4 yea r s s en t en ce on a ll b u t two of t h e a ccu s ed ir r es p ective of t h e n u m b er of cou n t s in volved con s titu ted a fa ilu r e p r op er ly to d iffer en tia t e b etween t h e va r yin g d egr ees of b la m ewor t h in es s of th e d iffer en t a ccu s ed . It wa s a m is d ir ected a p p r oa ch wh ich r en d er s t h is Cou r t a t la r ge to con s id er s en ten ce a fr es h in r es p ect of t h os e a p p ella n ts wh os e s en ten ces a r e lia b le t o a p p ea l or cr os s -a p p ea l. [3 3 ] Th e r eleva n t even t s h a p p en ed n ea r ly fou r t een yea r s a go. Accu s ed 2 , 3 a n d 8 wer e t h en 2 1 or you n ger a n d t h e r es t wer e in t h eir m id twen t ies . Th ey wou ld h a ve b een im p r es s ion a b le you n g m en , n o d ou b t a ctin g in t h e a fter m a t h of t h e a d r en a lin s u r ges t h ey wou ld h a ve exp er ien ced in t h e con fr on t a tion a t t h e Ba r r a ck s . It is n ot t h e Cr own ’s ca s e t h a t t h ey d es er ted b u t, a s a lr ea d y in d ica ted , it is u n lik ely th a t t h ey ever s er iou s ly con tem p la ted h ow t h ey wou ld h elp t h eir collea gu es u n d er s iege b y r et u r n in g wit h t h e r ela tively m ea gr e n u m b er of wea p on s t h ey h a d m a n a ged t o s ecu r e. Th eir es ca p a d e wa s ill-con s id er ed a n d t h eir a im s wer e fa n cifu l, p er h a p s a s b efit ted p eop le of t h eir a ge a n d t h e cir cu m s t a n ces in wh ich t h ey fou n d t h em s elves . [3 4 ] On t h e ot h er h a n d t h eir con d u ct wou ld h a ve in s tilled fea r in t h eir victim s a n d , a s a r gu ed for t h e Cr own , Les ot h o s ociety wa s en titled t o exp ect p r otection fr om it s s old ier s , n ot la wles s n es s . [3 5 ] Ta k in g t h e fa cts a n d cir cu m s ta n ces of t h e ca s e in t o a ccou n t t h e Cr own is ju s tified in a s k in g t h a t t h e s en ten ces of a ccu s ed 7 a n d 8 – wh o t ook clea r ly lea d in g r oles in t h e in itia l a n d m os t s er iou s offen ces in t h e s er ies – b e in cr ea s ed . To t h a t ext en t t h e a p p ea l s u cceed s . On t h e ot h er h a n d , a ccu s ed 2 , 3 a n d 5 a r e ju s tified in s u b m ittin g t h a t t h eir s u b s er vien t r oles b e r ecogn ized b y a r ed u ction in s en t en ce. To t h a t exten t t h eir cr os s -a p p ea ls on s en t en ce s u cceed . [3 6 ] Th e or d er of t h is Cou r t is a s follows , ta k in g t h e va r iou s r es p on d en t s in or d er : 1 . Th e fir s t r es p on d en t (a ccu s ed 1 ) 1 .1 His cr os s -a p p ea l a ga in s t h is con viction on cou n t 4 is a llowed . His con viction a n d s en ten ce on t h a t cou n t a r e s et a s id e. 1 .2 Th e a p p ea l a ga in s t h is s en ten ces is d is m is s ed . 2 . Th e s econ d r es p on d en t (a ccu s ed 2 ) 2 .1 His cr os s -a p p ea l a ga in s t h is con viction on cou n t 4 is a llowed . His con viction a n d s en ten ce on t h a t cou n t a r e s et a s id e. 2 .2 His cr os s -a p p ea l a ga in s t s en ten ce t h e Cr own ’s a p p ea l is a llowed a n d is d is m is s ed . His s en ten ces on cou n t s 2 , t o 3 yea r s 3 , 7 a n d 8 a r e r ed u ced im p r is on m en t on ea ch cou n t . Th e s en t en ces a r e t o r u n con cu r r en tly. 3 . Th e t h ir d r es p on d en t (a ccu s ed 3 ) 3 .1 His cr os s -a p p ea l His con viction s on cou n t s 1 a n d 3 a r e s et a s id e a s is h is s en t en ce on cou n t 1 . a llowed . is 3 .2 Th e Cr own ’s a p p ea l is d is m is s ed . His s en t en ce on cou n t 2 is s et a s id e. In its s tea d is s u b s t itu ted a s en ten ce of two a n d a h a lf yea r s im p r is on m en t. 4 . Th e fou r t h r es p on d en t (a ccu s ed 5 ) Th e a p p ea l is d is m is s ed . His cr os s -a p p ea l is a llowed . His s en ten ces on cou n ts 7 a n d 8 a r e s et a s id e. In t h eir s t ea d is s u b s tit u t ed a s en t en ce of (2 ½ ) yea r s t wo a n d a h a lf im p r is on m en t p er cou n t . Th e s en ten ces a r e to r u n con cu r r en tly. 5 . Th e fift h r es p on d en t (a ccu s ed 6 ) Th e a p p ea l a n d cr os s -a p p ea l a r e d is m is s ed . 6 . Th e s ixt h r es p on d en t (a ccu s ed 7 ) Th e a p p ea l is a llowed a n d h is cr os s -a p p ea l is a llowed in p a r t a n d d is m is s ed in p a r t. His con viction a n d s en ten ce on cou n t 1 a r e s et a s id e. His s en ten ce on cou n t 2 is s et a s id e. In its s t ea d is s u b s tit u t ed a s en te n ce of s even (7 ) yea r s Th e s en ten ces im p os ed on cou n t s 2 , 3 , 4 a n d 5 a r e t o r u n con cu r r en tly. im p r is on m en t . 7 . Th e s even t h r es p on d en t (a ccu s ed 8 ) Th e a p p ea l is a llowed a n d h is cr os s -a p p ea l is a llowed in p a r t a n d d is m is s ed in p a r t. His con viction a n d s en ten ce on cou n t 1 a r e s et a s id e. His s en ten ce on cou n t 2 is s e t a s id e. In its s t ea d is s u b s tit u ted a s en ten ce of five (5 ) yea r s Th e s en ten ces im p os ed on cou n t s 2 , 3 a n d 4 a r e to r u n con cu r r en tly. im p r is on m en t . I a gr ee: ____________________ C. T. H OWIE J US TICE OF APPE AL ____________________ D. G. S COTT J US TICE OF APPE AL I a gr ee: ____________________ I. G. F AR LAM J US TICE OF APPE AL Ad v. G. J . Lep p a n Ad v. Sen ek a n e For t h e S ta te : For fir s t a p p ella n t : For s econ d a p p ella n t : Mr . T. M. Ma iea n e For t h ir d a p p ella n t : Ad v. L. D. Mola p o For fou r t h a p p ella n t : Ad v. H. Na t h a n e For fift h , s ixt h a n d s even t h a p p ella n ts : Mr . P. T. Nt es o