LLAW3099 - Chapter 8 Mitigation and Sentencing
LLAW3099 - Chapter 8 Mitigation and Sentencing
LLAW3099 - Chapter 8 Mitigation and Sentencing
Learning objectives
1. Overview;
2. Factual basis for sentence;
Factors
affecting 3. Background of the accused;
sentence 4. Sentencing option generally;
5. Applying sentencing principles to mitigation;
6. Rehabilitation of offenders
1. Overview
1.1 General aspects of sentencing
Sentencing is a matter of the court. Deciding the proper and actual Yau Kwong Man v Secretary
of Security; R v Sargeant
punishment is the responsibility of the courts.
Prosecutor should:
- Adequately present the relevant facts
- Assist the court to avoid error of fact or law
- Respond to court’s request for information
- Fairly evaluable, test opposing case, and correct errors made
by the Defence
- Provide information from previous court decisions, stats
- Make submissions on the type NOT quantum of sentence
1
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Defence has a duty to assist the court to avoid appealable error and HKSAR v Chan Yuk
must strive to correct any error of law or fact that becomes apparent. San
Duty rests of Defence to draw the court’s attention to the relevant HKSAR v Chan Wai
matters in mitigation. Kong
- Counsel has duty to put such mitigation as he feels HKSAR v Zhou
appropriate Jianguo
Assertion of fact by counsel in mitigation is not evidence and should R v Cheung Hong
be prepared to substantiate by calling evidence. Chung
- Matter of convenience that what is said in mitigation is HKSAR v Ngai Ho
generally accepted without calling evidence but counsel has Ting
to be prepared to make his mitigation good
- Where mitigation is not inherently incredible / inconsistent
with material before court: court is under a duty to notify
counsel that mitigation will not accepted and counsel has to
decide whether to make good the submission by evidence
- Where the point is not prima facie credible / consistent: it is
the counsel to recognise that he would have to call evidence
Court cannot sentence a defendant for a crime that he has not been HKSAR v Yeung
charged with or convicted of. Chuen Tai
If D pleads guilty
- Brief Facts / Summary of Facts is submitted by Prosecution
- If D understand the plea, plea is recorded
If D is found guilty
- By magistrate / DC judge: Reasons for Verdict of the Court
- By CFI judge after jury verdict: judge’s own view of facts
2
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Magistrates’ Courts
- Brief Facts prepared by Prosecution is read to D and D
would be asked whether he agreed with the allegations
- Brief narrative of the circumstances of the allegations
- Based on evidence available to P, a list of witnesses, exhibits
- Should be served with Charge Sheet before first appearance
before a magistrate
District Court
- After transfer proceedings, first hearing date is fixed MO s.90(1)(a)
- Heard in plea court
- Further charge sheet to be delivered to D
- Summary of Facts is also prepared by P
- Bundles of witness statements, exhibits and unused materials
are made available to D
3
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
A person’s previous record is likely to be an aggravating factor for HKSAR v Ngo Wan
sentence because of (i) the need to impose deterrence sentence or (ii) Huy
the need to protect society from criminals like him. Court will be
justified to impose higher sentence.
Hospital Order
- Convicted by CFI/DC offence other than that with fixed MHO s.45(1)(a)(i),
sentence; or convicted by magistrate punishable on summary (ii)
conviction; or charged before magistrate
- Written/oral evidence of 2 registered medical practitioners MHO s.45(1)(b)
o Mentally disordered person
o Warrants detention in CSD Psychiatric Centre/
mental hospital
- The most suitable method of disposing the case MHO s.45(1)(c)
- Shall not be greater the sentence the court could impose
4
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Generally
- Not sentence person over 16 or under 21 to imprisonment CPO s.109A
unless court is of opinion that there is no other appropriate
method of dealing with such person
- Order not to be invalidated by subsequent proof of age JOO s.19
- No child shall be sentenced to imprisonment / committed to JOO s.11(1)
prison in default of payment
- No young person shall be sentenced to imprisonment if he JOO s.11(2)
can be dealt with in any other way
o Imprisoned young person shall not be allowed to JOO s.11(3)
associate with adult prisoners
o Nature / prevalence of offence may warrant HKSAR v Law Ka
imprisonment Kit
- May remand defendant for not more than 3 weeks for
obtaining report of suitability
- Note that court can order detention, which is longer than the HKSAR v Wan
maximum imprisonment sentence allowed Hong Kin
5
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
- May remand defendant for not more than 3 weeks for TCO s.4(4)
obtaining report of suitability
6
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Conditions:
- For a term of less than 2 years CPO s.109B(1)
- Not available for excepted offences in Sch 3 of Cap 221 CPO s.109B(1)
- Unless D commits another offence punishable with CPO s.109B(1)
imprisonment not less than 1 year or more than 3 years after
the order
- Shall not make probation order CPO s.109B(2)
- Court may impose conditions CPO s.109B(3)
o Breach of condition shall be treated as offence CPO s.109F
punishable with imprisonment
- When deciding whether suspended sentence should be order, SJ v Ip Hon Ming
court should take into account of gravity offence and
mitigating factors
- Should have regard to all circumstances of the case SJ v Wade
- Offender may be dealt with in respect of suspended sentence CPO s.109D
by any court
Conditions:
- Of or over 14 years old CSO s.4(1)
- Punishable with imprisonment CSO s.4(1)
- Total number of hours not exceeding 240 CSO s.4(1)
- May be ordered in addition to or in lieu of any other CSO s.4(2)
sentence (unless the other sentence is mandatory)
- D must consent to CSO CSO s.4(3)(a)
- Must consider report from probation officer CSO s.4(3)(b)(i)
Guidelines:
- 6 factors in R v Brown: first offender/light criminal record; R v Brown
stable home background; good work record; gainful
employment or have realistic prospect of such; genuine
remorse; risk of re-offending is slight
o Whether genuine remorse is a precondition SJ v Leung Hiu Yeung
- Court is not restricted to the 6 factors nor insisting that all HKSAR v Wan Ka
the factors must be present; but usually most of the factors Kit
would be present
- Even if the factors are present, gravity of offence must be SJ v Li Cheuk Ming
considered: e.g. whether general deterrence is needed
o But CSO may still be granted under exceptional
circumstances: guilty plea, general family
background, financial losses are not exceptional
circumstances
7
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Conditions:
- Not being an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law Probation of
- Nature of offence and character of offender Offenders Ordinance
- Under supervision of probation officer for not less than 1 s.3(1)
year or more than 3 years
- May impose additional requirements for securing good POOO s.3(2)
conduct / preventing a repetition
- Breach of PO: fine, continuance of PO, caution or re-
sentence
4.7 Fine
Conditions:
- Any offence other than an offence which the sentence is CPO s.113A
fixed by law
- In lieu of or in addition to any other sentence
- Allow time for payment
- If any sum is not paid, imprisonment not exceeding 12
months
- Must be within the capacity of D to pay HKSAR v Du Jun
8
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Restitution order
Case 1: property in possession of or for D
- Convicted of indictable offence CPO s.84(1)
- Property in his possession/possessed by another for him
- Magistrate or court
- To deliver property to person appearing to be entitled to it
- Can return to person who is charged with indictable offence CPO s.84(2)
9
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Disqualification
- Disqualification of company directors
- Disqualification from driving RTO s.69
o Convicted of offence listed tin RTO s.69(1)
Generally
- Maximum sentence
- Mandatory sentence
- Whether offence is an excepted offence
- Sentencing guidelines / tariffs
- Young offender
- Disqualification from driving / order to attend and complete
driving improvement course
Excepted offences
- Relevant to whether suspended sentence can be granted
Young offenders
10
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Sentencing judge / magistrate should expressly state starting point of HKSAR v Lin Yu
sentence.
- Starting point is sentence before taking into account of
aggravating and mitigating factors
- Convicted of more than one offence: separate starting points
Generally
- Where factors are plausible and uncontradicted, judge should HKSAR v Cheung
proceed to sentence on that basis of mitigation To Ming
- Take into account of the crime and personal circumstances HKSAR v Bayanmunkh
- Possible factors not discussed in detail here:
o Age, health, financial circumstances, positive good
character, voluntary repayment, loss of pension
Clear record
- Absence of previous convictions R v Chan Ka-choi
11
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Assistance to authorities
- No distinction between information of crime for which D Z v HKSAR
was sentenced or other crime
- No distinction between pre-arrest/post-arrest assistance
- Regard to nature and extent of assistance
- Regard to likely consequences of D
- Relevant circumstances:
o Good and genuine motive – full recognition
o Paid by police – more substantial, less sympathetic
o Build up credit – undesirable
Situation Discount
Provided assistance + 1/3 40% discount
reduction from guilty plea
Truthful and material 50% discount
evidence + 1/3 reduction
from guilty plea
Supergrass co-operation 2/3 discount
Delay in prosecution
- Not of itself a mitigating factor HKSAR v Chiu Chi
- Not ordinarily a mitigating factor if caused by: Wing
o Difficulties in detecting, investing and proving
offence and delay is reasonable
o Offender’s obstruction (but not reliance on D’s legal
rights)
o Normal operation of criminal justice system
- Conducive to emergence of mitigating factors, e.g. made
progress towards rehabilitation
- May be a mitigating factor when:
o Caused significant stress / D in uncertain suspense
o Reasonable expectation that D wouldn’t be charged
and order affairs on faith of that expectation
- May be a mitigating factor when caused by dilatory /
neglectful conduct by the government
DC / CFI may have power to enhance sentence under specific HSKAR v Li Kin
legislation, to order a sentence of greater deterrence; this should be Keung
used sparingly and under exceptional circumstances.
12
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
Court may adjourn the case to a specific date for the reports.
- Background report, probation report, community service
report, DATC report, medical report
Background report
- Further background: e.g. history and personal circumstances;
attitude of D; whether D was remorseful
- May be called for minor or serious offences HKSAR v Law Ka
Kit
Some offences mandate the court to obtain relevant reports prior to
sentencing.
Suitability report
- For Defendants under 25 years old
- Suitability for admission into DC, TC, RC, RS
The purpose is to achieve a just and balance sentence that will not HKSAR v Lam See
punish D twice and will not be crushing to him; and achieving the Chung, Stephen
usual principles of sentencing: deterrence, rehabilitation and
denunciation.
In DC, verdict and reasons are given orally, in the presence of D and DCO s.80
13
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
6. Rehabilitation of offenders
6.1 Starting point
Conviction of an offence Rehabilitation of
- Convicted in HK Offenders Ordinance
- Sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or fine s.2(1)
exceeding $10,000
o Does not include detention in RS/DC/TC/DATC
o Whether suspended or not
- Not convicted in HK on any earlier day of offence
- 3 years elapsed without being convicted again
o From the date of sentencing
- => no evidence shall be admissible to show conviction
- => no need to refer to conviction
- => not lawful to prejudice individual based on conviction
14
LLAW3099 Criminal Procedure Christopher Chan
ROO s.4(3)
Further specific exceptions related to employment
- Dismissal / exclusion from practising as barrister, solicitor,
account or from prescribed office
15