S v Kumalo
Jurisdiction | South Africa |
Judge | Holmes JA, Wessels JA and Potgieter JA |
Judgment Date | 28 May 1973 |
Citation | 1973 (3) SA 697 (A) |
Hearing Date | 22 May 1973 |
Court | Appellate Division |
S v Kumalo
1973 (3) SA 697 (A)
1973 (3) SA p697
Citation |
1973 (3) SA 697 (A) |
Court |
Appellate Division |
Judge |
Holmes JA, Wessels JA and Potgieter JA |
Heard |
May 22, 1973 |
Judgment |
May 28, 1973 |
Flynote : Sleutelwoorde
Criminal procedure — Sentence — Factors to be taken into account — Criminal law — Murder — Second conviction therefor — Gross provocation and inflamed by liquor — Sentenced to ten years' imprisonment — Four years thereof suspended on appeal B in special circumstances and as an act of mercy.
Headnote : Kopnota
Punishment must fit the criminal as well as the crime, be fair to society, and be blended with a measure of mercy according to the circumstances. The last of these four elements of justice is sometimes overlooked.
A twice convicted murderer, aged 46, who, as the result of the sentence C imposed for his original conviction together with those imposed for escapes from prison, had already spent nearly half his life and most of his youth in gaol, but had not been convicted for 19 years, and since his release had gone without any conviction for any offence for six years, until he had been grossly provoked into committing the instant second murder, had been sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in respect thereof. In an appeal against sentence, it appeared that the appellant had been inflamed by liquor prior to stabbing his victim who had so D grossly provoked him, and that in the case of both murders there had been extenuating circumstances. The trial Judge had held that the instant crime had been 'originated by his victim and not by him'.
Held, though the Court did not overlook the factor that, in general, society needed protection from a twice-convicted murderer, that that factor had to be weighed against other specified relevant considerations.
Held, further, that, as a matter of justice and mercy, the appellant E should have his sentence of ten years confirmed, but that two-fifths of it should be suspended.
Case Information
Appeal against a sentence imposed in the Durban and Coast Local Division (MILLER, J. and assessors). The facts appear from the judgment of HOLMES, J.A.
P. Levinsohn, for the appellant, at the request of the Court: There were strong mitigating features surrounding the commission of the crime in question. (a) The appellant had been provoked and the trial Court found that such provocation was 'considerable'. (b) The incident was caused by the deceased's conduct. (c) At the time of the commission of the offence G the appellant was probably under the influence of alcohol. In regard to the cumulative effect of (a) the above-mentioned mitigating features which arise from a consideration of the appellant's record, particularly that he has not committed any crime since 1953 and (b) the mitigating circumstances which surround the commission of the offence, the sentence H imposed should be reduced and such reduction should be a very substantial one warranting interference by this Court. See S. v. Berliner, 1967 (2) SA at p. 200E; S. v. Whitehead and Another, 1971 (4) SA at p. 622H. F
A. B. Leslie, for the State: 'The infliction of punishment is preeminently a matter for the discretion of the trial Court.' R. v. Mapumolo and Others, 1920 AD at p. 57. The appellant's record 'must figure prominently' in assessing an appropriate sentence. The Court a quo exercised its judicial discretion properly and the sentence
1973 (3) SA p698
is not 'startlingly inappropriate'. S. v. Ivanisevic and Another, 1967 (4) SA at p. 575H; S. v. Berliner, 1967 (2) SA 193. A substantial sentence is merited for the protection of society since this is the A appellant's second conviction for murder. S. v. Zinn, 1969 (2) SA 537.
Judgment
Holmes, J.A.:
This is an appeal against sentence.
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