R. v. Choi Siu Man

Case No.CACC 703/1995
Court
Court of Appeal
Date03 Apr 1996
Judge
Case Document
100%

CACC000703/1995

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL

1995, No. 703
(Criminal)

BETWEEN
THE QUEEN Respondent
AND
CHOI SIU MAN Applicant

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Coram: Hon Mortimer, J.A. and Mayo, J.A.

Date of hearing: 3 April 1996

Date of judgment: 3 April 1996

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J U D G M E N T

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Mayo, J.A. (giving the judgment of the Court):

1. The applicant seeks leave to appeal against the sentence of four-and-a-half years' imprisonment for trafficking in dangerous drugs. He was caught red-handed by the police. The amount of dangerous drugs involved was 98.16 grams of a mixture containing 26.28 grams of heroin. He pleaded guilty to the offence. The amount of dangerous drugs involved is within the second tier of the category of cases in Lau Tak-ming.

2. His Honour Judge Muttrie adopted six years as his starting point. However he only gave a discount of 25% for the guilty plea and for the assistance which the applicant gave to the police. This was not enough. He should have given 33% a discount to the applicant and this being the case we allow the application, treat it as the substantive appeal and substitute a sentence of four years' imprisonment for the term of four-and-a-half years.

(Barry Mortimer) (Simon Mayo)
Justice of Appeal Justice of Appeal

Representation:

Mr F. Veltro for Crown Prosecutor

CHOI Siu-man - Applicant in person/present