CHOW HON-MING v. THE QUEEN
HTML content
CACC000507/1978
| IN THE COURT OF APPEAL | |
| 1978 No. 507 | |
| (Criminal) |
| BETWEEN | ||
| CHOW HON-MING | Appellant | |
| and | ||
| THE QUEEN | Respondent |
-----------------
Coram: Huggins and Pickering, JJ.A., and Leonard, J.
Date of Judgment: 8th August 1978.
-----------------
JUDGMENT
-----------------
Huggins, J.A.:
1. The Appellant appeals against a sentence of five years' imprisonment for robbery. He was an air-conditioning mechanic earning a good salary. He was sent on duty to a flat to overhaul an air-conditioner and he returned on a subsequent day and then attacked the owner's wife, a woman who was pregnant, as she was leaving the flat. It is not entirely clear exactly what he did: he appears to have covered her mouth with his hand and at some stage was holding her neck: he threatened her with a knife and then forced her into the flat and stole property inside. Obviously people like the Appellant, who have lawful access to premises, must be deterred from committing robberies of this kind. It is, however, in favour of the Appellant that he did surrender himself, possibly as the result of the persuasion of his wife, who clearly has a good influence upon him. This is his first offence and he has pleaded Guilty. Despite the seriousness of the offence we think that the sentence is too high. He had a clear record and we are disposed to allow the appeal and to substitute a sentence of three and a half years' imprisonment. We order accordingly.
8th August 1978.
Representation: