S v Hendricks 1995 - LCP CASE LAW PDF

Preview

Summary

LCP CASE LAW...

Description

Source: SouthAfricanCriminalLawReports,The(1990todate)/CHRONOLOGICALLISTINGOFCASESJanuary1990toAugust2020/1995/Volume2:157276(August)/Sv HENDRICKS1995(2)SACR177(A) URL: http://jutastat.juta.co.za/nxt/gateway.dll/sacr/3/3319/3405/3407?f=templates$fn=default.htm SvHENDRICKS1995(2)SACR177(A) 1995(2)SACRp177

Citation

1995(2)SACR177(A)

Court

AppellateDivision

Judge

MaraisJA

Heard

May11,1995

Judgment

May30,1995

Counsel

JPMaraisfortheappellant AHattinghfortheState

Annotations LinktoCaseAnnotations

Flynote:Sleutelwoorde G  IndictmentandchargeJoinderofchargesWhenchargesmaybejoinedIntermsofs81(1)ofCriminalProcedureAct51of1977 chargesmayonlybejoined'beforeanyevidencehasbeenled'Whataccusedhassaidduringpleaproceedingsisnotincludedinconcept of'evidence'asusedH ins81(1)Additionalchargesmayaccordinglybejoinedafterpleaproceedings. Headnote:Kopnota Intermsofs81(1)oftheCriminalProcedureAct51of1977additionalchargesmaybejoinedonly'beforeanyevidencehasbeenled'.What theIaccusedhassaidduringthatpartoftheproceedingswhichisdevotedtoascertainingwhatheorshepleadstothechargesandwhatthe issuesarebetweentheprosecutionandtheaccusedwhichrequiretobetried,isnotincludedintheconceptof'evidence'asusedins81(1). TheCourtintheinstantcaseheldthatadmissionsmadebytheaccusedduringquestioningintermsofs112(1)(b)oftheCriminalProcedure Actwhichwerenotrecordedasadmissionsintermsofs220butnonethelessintermsofs113(1)'standasproofinanyCourt'ofthose allegationsJdidnotamountto 1995(2)SACRp178

MARAISJA A evidencewithintheintentionofs81(1)andadditionalchargescouldaccordinglybebroughtagainsttheaccusedaftersuchquestioning. CaseInformation AppealfromthedismissalofanappealbytheEasternCapeDivision(KannemeyerJPandReinAJ)whichhaddismissedanappealagainstaB convictionandsentenceforrapeinaregionalcourt. JPMaraisfortheappellant. AHattinghfortheState. Curadvvult. C Postea(30May1995).

Judgment MaraisJA:AppellantwasarrestedonFriday19February1993.Thatverydayhemadeastatementtoamagistrate.Hespenttheweekend incustodyandappearedintheregionalcourtonMonday22February1993.Atthatstagethreechargesandanalternativechargehadbeen broughtDagainsthim.Thefirst(count1)wasachargeofhousebreakingwithintenttostealandtheftallegedlycommittedon11February 1993atthehomeofMrSHinPortElizabeth.Thesecond(count2)wasachargeofhousebreakingwithintenttorobandrobberyallegedly committedon19February1993atthesameaddress,itbeingallegedthatthepersonwhoE wasrobbedwasMrsCH.Thethird(count3)was achargeofattemptedrapeofMrsCHallegedlycommittedatthesametimeastheaforesaidrobberywasallegedlycommitted.Thealternative chargewasoneofindecentassaultbaseduponthesameincident. Appellantwasaskedwhetherhewishedtobelegallyrepresentedandthepossibleavailabilityoflegalaidwasexplainedtohim.HeelectedtoF defendhimself.Thechargeswerethenputtohimbytheprosecutor.Hepleadedguiltytothethreecharges,addingthathehadnottakenall thearticleslistedinthefirstcharge.Theregionalmagistrateproceededtoquestionhimintermsofs112(1)(b)oftheCriminalProcedureAct 51of1977('theAct')inordertoascertainwhetherheadmittedtheG allegationsinthecharges,andtosatisfyhimselfthatappellantwas guiltyoftheoffencestowhichhehadpleadedguilty.Appellantproceededtodescribeinsomedetailwhathehaddone.Theregional magistratewassatisfiedthatappellantdidadmittheallegationsinthefirstcharge(subjecttothequalificationthatnotallthearticleslistedin thechargesheetwereadmittedtohavebeenstolen),theH prosecutorindicatedthatheacceptedthequalification,andthepleaofguilty remainedstanding.Theregionalmagistratewasnotsatisfiedthatappellant'spleasofguiltytothesecondandthirdchargeswereborneoutby theadmissionsmadebyhim,andheenteredpleasofnotguiltytothosecharges.Thealternativechargedoesnotappeartohavebeenputto appellant.Asafact,hisexplanationofwhathehaddonetoIcomplainantamountedtoanadmissionoftheparticularallegationmadeagainst himinthatcharge.Indeed,hisexplanationshowedthathehadalsocommittedotherindecentactswhichhadnotbeenparticularisedinthe alternativecharge. Appellantwasnotaskedthereafterwhetherornothewaspreparedtoallowanythingsaidbyhimduringtheprocesstostandasanadmission madeintermsofs220oftheAct,buttheeffectoftheprovisotosJ113(1) 1995(2)SACRp179

MARAISJA A oftheActwasthatfactualallegationsadversetohimselfmadeduringtheenquiryforwhichs112provides,'standasproofinanycourt'of

©2018JutaandCompany(Pty)Ltd.

Downloaded:FriAug14202014:53:38GMT+0200(SouthAfricaStandardTime)

thoseallegations,providedofcoursethattheyarenotallegationswhichthecourtissatisfiedareincorrectlyadmittedallegations.SeeSv Ncube;SvMphatengen'nAnder1981(3)SA511(T)at513EG.Theallegationsadversetoappellantwhichheadmitted,couldnothave beenBregardedasincorrectlymadeadmissions,andtheythereforestood'asproof'againsthiminthetrial. Theprosecutoratthisjunctureintroducedanothercharge,namely,oneofrape(count4).Whereashehadpreviouslybeenaccusedof attemptingtoC rape,alternatively,indecentlyassaultingMrsCHatherhomeon19February1993,hewasnowaccusedofrapingheronthat occasion.Therecorddoesnotshowthatappellantobjectedtothechargeofrapebeingbroughtagainsthimatthatstage.Indeed,he pleadedguiltytothecharge.Whathehadsaidearlierinconnectionwiththeotherchargeswasplainlyinconsistentwithhispleaofguiltyto thechargeofrape,Dbecausehehaddeniedspecificallythenthathehadhadintercoursewithcomplainantorthatheintendedtodoso.Not surprisingly,theregionalmagistratequestionedhimpertinentlyonthisaspectofthematterafterhehadpleadedguiltytothechargeofrape and,havingelicitedaspecificdenialthatappellanthadsexualintercoursewithcomplainantonthatoccasion,theregionalmagistrate,interms ofs113oftheAct,E alteredappellant'spleatooneofnotguiltytothechargeofrape. Thehearingofvivavoceevidencethereuponcommenced.Bytheendofthatday(Monday22February),complainantandapolicewomanhad testified.ThepolicewomanhadrespondedtoaradiocallandencounteredFcomplainantinanallegedlyhystericalandtearfulstate. Complainantisallegedtohavecomplainedtoherthatshehadbeenraped.Bothwerecrossexaminedbyappellant.Theburdenofappellant's crossexaminationofcomplainantwasdevotedtotheissueofpenetration(actualorattempted)whichwastheonlycentralissueindisputeby thatstage.ThedayconcludedwithappellantraisingthematterofapossiblegrantG ofbailandindicatingthathewishedtoapplyforlegalaid becauseoftheintroductionofthechargeofrape.Hesaid'Ifeelmislednotbyanyoneelsebutmyself.IfeelIshouldhavesomeonewhois morequalified'.Theregionalmagistratedeclinedtograntbailatthatstageandindicatedthathewouldbepreparedtoreconsiderthequestion on26H February1993.Hethereuponremandedthecasetothatdate. On26Februarytheregionalmagistratewasinformedthattheapplicationforlegalaidhadnotbeensuccessful.Hetelephonedanofficialofthe legalaidboardandrecommendedthegrantoflegalaidtoappellant.Hisinterventionborefruitandanattorneyappearedlaterthatdayto representappellant.NoevidencewasheardonthatdayandthecasewasIremandedto3Marchforthehearingofanapplicationforbail. Thetrialitselfresumedon26April1993.Onthatday,thedistrictsurgeonwhohadexaminedcomplainant,testified.Hewascrossexamined byappellant'sattorneywithspecificreferencetotheissueofpenetration.TheprosecutorclosedtheState'scaseandappellanttestified.He deniedpenetrationoranyattempttohavesexualintercourse.TheJdefencecasewasclosedwithout 1995(2)SACRp180

MARAISJA A anyapplicationhavingbeenmadebyappellant'sattorneyfortherecallforfurthercrossexaminationofcomplainantandthepolicewoman referredtoearlier.Argumentensuedandjudgmentwasreserved.

On29April1993theregionalmagistratedeliveredhisjudgment.Heconvictedappellantuponcounts1,2and4,and,becausetheallegations Bincount3,andthealternativetoit,relatedtowhatheconsideredtobepreparatoryactsintimatelyassociatedwiththeactofrape(count

4)ofwhichappellanthadbeenconvicted,heacquittedhimoncount3(and,impliedly,thealternativetocount3).Afterhearingevidenceboth inmitigationandinaggravationofsentence,andconsideringthesubmissionsmadetohim,theregionalmagistratesentencedappellanttoC twoyears'imprisonmentoncount1,fouryears'imprisonmentoncount2,and10years'imprisonmentoncount4.Heorderedthesentence imposedinrespectofcount1,andtwoyearsofthesentenceimposedinrespectofcount2,torunconcurrentlywiththesentenceimposedin respectofcount4.Appellantwasthussentencedeffectivelyto12years'imprisonment. DOn3May1993appellantaddressedfromStAlban'sprisoninPortElizabethalettertotheregionalcourtcomplainingofhisconvictionand sentenceuponthechargeofrape(count4).Heattackedtheconvictionuponitsmerits.Heraisednocomplaintaboutanyproceduralaspect ofthetrialandmadenosuggestionthathehadsufferedanyE prejudicebyreasonofthepromptitudewithwhichhewasbroughttotrial,or theraisingofthechargeofrapeafterhehadpleadedtotheothercharges,andmadethestatementswhichhedidduringquestioninginterms ofs112(1)(b).TheletterwasregardedasanapplicationforaJudge'scertificategrantingleavetoappealtoappellantintermsofFRule67(1) oftheMagistrates'CourtsAct32of1944anditwasforwardedtotheEasternCapeDivision.Leavewasgrantedtohimtoappealagainstonly theconvictionofrape.

Appellantappearstohavebeenabletoengagetheservicesofattorneysthereafterbecausethereappearsintherecordanoticeofappeal dated8December1993.Althoughstatedtobeonlyagainst'theconvictionoftheappellant',oneofthegroundsofappealwasthatan excessivelyharshG sentencehadbeenimposedandthatinsufficientweighthadbeengiventothepersonalcircumstancesoftheaccused.No leavetoappealagainstthesentencehadbeengrantedbythelearnedJudgewhograntedacertificateintermsofRule67(1),andinsofaras thenoticeofappealpurportedtoinitiateanappealagainstthesentence,itwasgrosslyoutH oftime.Noapplicationforcondonationofthe failuretonotetimeouslyanappealagainstthesentencewasmade.Therewasthereforenoprocedurallyvalidappealagainstthesentence beforetheEasternCapeDivision.Itisofsomesignificancethat,onceagain,nopointwasmadeinthenoticeofappealoftheadditionofcount 4attheparticularIjunctureatwhichitwasadded,andnosuggestionwasmadethatappellanthadsufferedanyprejudicebecauseofthe promptitudewithwhichhewastried. WhentheappealwasheardbytheEasternCapeDivision,counselappearstohaverepresentedappellantattherequestoftheCourt,andnot upontheinstructionoftheattorneyswhofiledthenoticeofappealtowhichreferencehasbeenmade.Heraisedforthefirsttimethe contentionJthatconfrontingappellantwiththechargeofrape(count4)afterhehad 1995(2)SACRp181

MARAISJA A pleadedtotheotherchargesandhadbeenquestionedthereanentintermsofs112(1)(b),wasfatallyirregularbecauseoftheprovisionsof s81(1)oftheAct,andthereforevitiatedhisconvictionuponthatcharge.Thatprovisionprohibitsthejoiningoffurtherchargesinthesame proceedingsafter'evidencehasbeenledinrespectofanyparticularcharge'.TheEasternCapeDivisionconsideredthatnoevidencehadbeen Bledwithinthemeaningoftheprovision,sothatthepreferringofthechargeofrapewasnotirregular.Itaddedthat,evenifithadbeen irregular,noprejudicehadresulted,andthat,intheabsenceofprejudice,theirregularitycouldnotavailappellant.TheCourtproceededto considerthemeritsoftheappealandconcludedthatpenetrationhadbeenprovedbeyondreasonabledoubt,sothattheappealC againstthe convictionshouldfail.DespitethefactthattherewasnoprocedurallyvalidappealagainstthesentencebeforetheCourt,theCourtobserved thatthesentence,'thoughrobust',wasproperinthecircumstances.Theappealwasdismissed.

On8April1994,somefivemonthsaftertheEasternCapeDivisionhadD givenitsjudgment,appellantappliedtothatDivisionforcondonationof hisfailuretoapplytimeouslyforleavetoappealtothisCourt,andforleavetoappealagainstboththeconvictionofrapeandthesentence imposed.Yetafurtherpointwasraised;itwasallegedthat'[t]heproceedingsasreflectedinthereconstructedrecordindicatethattheE [appellant]didnotreceiveafairtrial'.Whentheapplicationwasargued,thisgroundofappealwaselaboratedupon.Theallegedunfairness wassaidtoflow,firstly,fromthefactthatwhatwasdescribedasthe'reconstructed'recordhadbeenimproperlyreconstructed;secondly,from thefactthatappellantwasbroughttotrialwithunduehaste;andthirdly,fromthebelatedadditionofthechargeofrape.Thetechnical proprietyofaddingthechargeofrapewasFalsoraisedagain,aswerethemeritsoftheconviction.Intheresult,theCourtgrantedlimited leavetoappealtothisCourtonlyonthequestionwhethertheadditionofthechargeofrapewasirregular,ifso,whetheritrenderedthe proceedingsprotantonullandvoid,ormerelyvoidableifprejudiceresulted,and,ifthelatter,whethertherewasanyG suchprejudice.A petitiontotheChiefJusticeresultedinappellantbeinggrantedleavetoappealgenerallyagainsttheconvictionforrape,thusenablinghimto canvassthemeritsoftheconvictioninthisCourt.Iturnnowtothesubmissionsadvancedbeforeus. H Theallegedlyirregularjoinderofthechargeofrape(count4)

Section81(1)oftheActreads:

©2018JutaandCompany(Pty)Ltd.

Downloaded:FriAug14202014:53:38GMT+0200(SouthAfricaStandardTime)

'(1)Anynumberofchargesmaybejoinedinthesameproceedingsagainstanaccusedatanytimebeforeanyevidencehasbeenledin respectofanyparticularcharge,andwhereseveralchargesaresojoined,eachchargeshallbenumberedIconsecutively'. Counselforappellantcontendedthatwhathadbeensaidbyappellantduringthephaseofthecasewhenhewasbeingquestionedintermsofs 112(1)(b)'inordertoascertainwhetherheadmit[ted]theallegationsinthecharge[s]towhichhe...pleadedguilty',coupledwiththefact thattheprosecutorhadacceptedappellant'squalifiedpleaofguiltyoncount1,amountedtotheleadingofevidencewithinthemeaningofsJ 81(1).It 1995(2)SACRp182

MARAISJA A followed,sohesubmitted,thattheadditionofthechargeofrapeafterthathadhappened,wasirregular,despitethefailureofappellantor hisattorneytoobjecttothatbeingdone.Heinvitedustoholdthattheirregularitywasofsofundamentalakindthatitprecludedanyenquiry intowhetherornotanyprejudicehadbeenoccasioned,andthattheBresultantproceedingswereprotantovoid.Itwascontended alternativelythateveniftheproceedingswerenotipsofactorenderedvoid,thebelatedadditionofcount4renderedthetrialprotantounfair, andtheconvictionandsentenceliabletobesetaside.Iunderstoodcounseltomeanbythisthatappellanthad,ormighthave,been prejudiced.

InordertoimpressuponustheimportanceinafaircriminaltrialofanC accusedknowing,beforeheorsheisaskedtoplead,preciselywhat crimesareallegedtohavebeencommitted,andhowtheyareallegedtohavebeencommitted,sothataninformedelectionastohowtoplead, andhowtomeettheState'scasecanbemade,counselreferredustoanumberofappositedictainthereportedcases.Theprincipleis uncontentiousDand,subjecttooneexception,Iseenoneedtocitethosedicta.InSvThipe1988(3)SA346(T)at349J350B,SchabortJ said: 'Saamgeleesmetdievereistevanart81(1)datsamevoegingvanaanklagtedieaflêvangetuienismoetvoorafgaan,isditklaarblyklikdie uitgangspuntvandieWetdat'npersoonwatvoordiestrafhofE gedaagwordvooraanvangvansyverhoordiepresiesebestekvansy potensiëleblootstellingaanskuldigbevindingenstrafindiesaakmoetkanweet.Eersindieligvansodanigesekerekennissou'n aangeklaagdesyposisiebehoorlikkonoorweeg;souhykonbesluitoordieraadsaamheidomregsverteenwoordigingtebekom;oordie strategieFvansyverdediging,oorhoofseninbesonderhede,enlesbes,oordiedienstigheidomskuldigtepleitmetdieoogop strafversagtigingof,byvoorbeeld,omdieverhoorvirpersoonlikeredesgouagterdierugtekry'. IfallthatthelearnedJudgemeanttoconveybytheseremarkswasthataprosecutormaynot,atanystageofacriminaltrial,confrontan accusedG belatedlyandwithoutforewarning,withanadditionalcharge,andtheninsistupontheaccusedpleadingtoitandproceedingwith hisorherdefenceinstanter,therecanbenoquarrelwiththat.If,ontheotherhand,heintendedtosuggestthatnofurtherchargeorcharges ofwhichnopriortimeousnoticehasbeengiventotheaccused,maybeaddedbytheprosecutoratanystageofacriminaltrialevenalthough theaccusedH isnotobligedtopleadtoit,ortopresentthedefencetoit,instanter,Iamunabletoagreewiththesuggestion.Forreasons whichIshallelaborateinduecourse,Ithinkitisplainthats81(1)explicitlysanctionstheraisingbytheprosecutorwithoutforewarningof additionalchargesagainstanaccusedevenaftertheaccusedhaspleadedItothechargesoriginallybrought.Theraisingofsuchadditional chargesmay,ormaynot,precipitateapostponementofthetrial,buttheplainandunambiguouslanguageofs81(1)showsthatitis procedurallycompetentfortheprosecutortoaddfurtherchargesrightuptothemomentbeforeevidencecommencestobeled.Thatmoment isusually,ifnotalways(aquestiontowhichIshallreturn),amomentwhichwillonlyarriveaftertherecordingoftheaccused'splea.If,bythe useoftheJwords'vooraanvangvansyverhoor',thelearnedJudge 1995(2)SACRp183

MARAISJA A meantbeforeastartismadeinthepresentationofevidencethatisanothermatter,butitwouldleaveopen,andunanswered,thequestion whichconcernsusinthiscase,namely,whattheLegislatureintendedtoconveybytheuseofthewords'beforeanyevidencehasbeenledin respectofanyparticularcharge'.Asafact,awitnesshadalreadytestifiedvivavoceatthebehestoftheprosecutionbeforethefurtherB chargewasaddedinThipe'scasesupraand,inthosecircumstances,thejoiningofthatchargewasundoubtedlyforbiddenbys81(1).

Thenuboftheargumentadvancedbycounselforappellantwasthatwhileapleaofguilty,ornotguilty,simpliciterwouldnotamountto...