CMY3704
ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1 2024
Unique Number: 669426
DUE DATE: : 22 March 2024
Terms of use
By making use of this document you agree to:
• Use this document as a guide for learning,
comparison and reference purpose,
• Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the
contents of this document as your own work,
• Fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise
or misuse this document.
Disclaimer
Extreme care has been used to create this
document, however the contents are provided “as
is” without any representations or warranties,
express or implied. The author assumes no
liability as a result of reliance and use of the
contents of this document. This document is to
be used for comparison, research and reference
purposes ONLY. No part of this document may be
reproduced, resold or transmitted in any form or
by any means.
, 0688120934
PREVIEW
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Definitions of key concepts: .................................................................................................................. 3
3. determining the appropriate offence based on the facts presented before me. ................................ 3
4. Factors that are considered when deciding appropriate sentence (Traditional Triad). ....................... 4
4.1 The gravity of the offence ................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 The circumstances of the offender ..................................................................................................... 4
4.3 Public Interest ..................................................................................................................................... 5
5. The powers of a judge to impose an appropriate sentence ................................................................. 5
5.1 Prescribed minimum sentencing guideline by the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997 for
murder ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
6. Accessing an appropriate sentence as a Judge ..................................................................................... 6
6.1 As per witnesses' statements ............................................................................................................. 6
6.2 personal circumstances of the accused .............................................................................................. 7
6.3 The circumstances/gravity of the crime. ............................................................................................ 8
6.4 Dealing with the interests of society. ................................................................................................. 9
6.5 The Criminal Law Amendment Act. 105 of 1997 (Act 105 of 1997). ................................................ 11
6.6 S v Ma/gas, 2001(1) SACR 469 (SCA)................................................................................................. 11
6.7 Malgas in paragraph 22 puts it this way: .......................................................................................... 11
6.8 As I deal with aggravating facts and mitigating factors. ................................................................... 12
6.9 Mitigating factors are the following. ................................................................................................ 12
6.10 Conclusion to my closing remarks .............................................................................................. 14
6.11 My judgement/verdict in passing of the sentence. .................................................................... 15
Reference .................................................................................................................................................... 16
Disclaimer
Extreme care has been used to create this document, however the contents are provided “as is”
without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The author assumes no liability as
a result of reliance and use of the contents of this document. This document is to be used for
comparison, research and reference purposes ONLY. No part of this document may be
reproduced, resold or transmitted in any form or by any means.
, 0688120934
1. Introduction
On February 14, 2013, Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
He fired four shots through the bathroom door, hitting her three times. Pistorius claimed
that he believed there was an intruder in the house and was trying to protect himself and
Reeva. As a judge in South Africa's criminal justice system, it is my responsibility to
ensure a fair and just trial. I oversee the proceedings, maintain order in the courtroom,
and make a decision based on the evidence presented to determine the guilt or innocence
of the accused. If found guilty, I also decide on the appropriate sentence.
2. Definitions of key concepts:
2.1 Imprisonment: Punishment that involves taking away the offender’s freedom.
2.2 Ordinary Imprisonment: Being sent away by court order/Law.
2.3 Life Imprisonment: Imprisonment that has over 25 years longevity, the convicted
person will be in prison for the rest of their life.
2.4 Periodic Imprisonment: Known as Weekend Imprisonment, where the offenders
serve their sentences over a period, this imprisonment does not cause the offenders to
lose their jobs.
2.5 Indeterminate sentence: it is a sentence imposed on hard criminals; the sentence can
be longer than seven years.
3. determining the appropriate offence based on the facts presented before
me.
The accused is guilty of murder with the accused having had criminal intent in the form of
do/us eventualis.'
It now remains for this court to impose an appropriate sentence. To determine a fitting
punishment based on fairness and proportion, I have to consider several factors, namely
Disclaimer
Extreme care has been used to create this document, however the contents are provided “as is”
without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The author assumes no liability as
a result of reliance and use of the contents of this document. This document is to be used for
comparison, research and reference purposes ONLY. No part of this document may be
reproduced, resold or transmitted in any form or by any means.
ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1 2024
Unique Number: 669426
DUE DATE: : 22 March 2024
Terms of use
By making use of this document you agree to:
• Use this document as a guide for learning,
comparison and reference purpose,
• Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the
contents of this document as your own work,
• Fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise
or misuse this document.
Disclaimer
Extreme care has been used to create this
document, however the contents are provided “as
is” without any representations or warranties,
express or implied. The author assumes no
liability as a result of reliance and use of the
contents of this document. This document is to
be used for comparison, research and reference
purposes ONLY. No part of this document may be
reproduced, resold or transmitted in any form or
by any means.
, 0688120934
PREVIEW
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Definitions of key concepts: .................................................................................................................. 3
3. determining the appropriate offence based on the facts presented before me. ................................ 3
4. Factors that are considered when deciding appropriate sentence (Traditional Triad). ....................... 4
4.1 The gravity of the offence ................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 The circumstances of the offender ..................................................................................................... 4
4.3 Public Interest ..................................................................................................................................... 5
5. The powers of a judge to impose an appropriate sentence ................................................................. 5
5.1 Prescribed minimum sentencing guideline by the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997 for
murder ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
6. Accessing an appropriate sentence as a Judge ..................................................................................... 6
6.1 As per witnesses' statements ............................................................................................................. 6
6.2 personal circumstances of the accused .............................................................................................. 7
6.3 The circumstances/gravity of the crime. ............................................................................................ 8
6.4 Dealing with the interests of society. ................................................................................................. 9
6.5 The Criminal Law Amendment Act. 105 of 1997 (Act 105 of 1997). ................................................ 11
6.6 S v Ma/gas, 2001(1) SACR 469 (SCA)................................................................................................. 11
6.7 Malgas in paragraph 22 puts it this way: .......................................................................................... 11
6.8 As I deal with aggravating facts and mitigating factors. ................................................................... 12
6.9 Mitigating factors are the following. ................................................................................................ 12
6.10 Conclusion to my closing remarks .............................................................................................. 14
6.11 My judgement/verdict in passing of the sentence. .................................................................... 15
Reference .................................................................................................................................................... 16
Disclaimer
Extreme care has been used to create this document, however the contents are provided “as is”
without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The author assumes no liability as
a result of reliance and use of the contents of this document. This document is to be used for
comparison, research and reference purposes ONLY. No part of this document may be
reproduced, resold or transmitted in any form or by any means.
, 0688120934
1. Introduction
On February 14, 2013, Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
He fired four shots through the bathroom door, hitting her three times. Pistorius claimed
that he believed there was an intruder in the house and was trying to protect himself and
Reeva. As a judge in South Africa's criminal justice system, it is my responsibility to
ensure a fair and just trial. I oversee the proceedings, maintain order in the courtroom,
and make a decision based on the evidence presented to determine the guilt or innocence
of the accused. If found guilty, I also decide on the appropriate sentence.
2. Definitions of key concepts:
2.1 Imprisonment: Punishment that involves taking away the offender’s freedom.
2.2 Ordinary Imprisonment: Being sent away by court order/Law.
2.3 Life Imprisonment: Imprisonment that has over 25 years longevity, the convicted
person will be in prison for the rest of their life.
2.4 Periodic Imprisonment: Known as Weekend Imprisonment, where the offenders
serve their sentences over a period, this imprisonment does not cause the offenders to
lose their jobs.
2.5 Indeterminate sentence: it is a sentence imposed on hard criminals; the sentence can
be longer than seven years.
3. determining the appropriate offence based on the facts presented before
me.
The accused is guilty of murder with the accused having had criminal intent in the form of
do/us eventualis.'
It now remains for this court to impose an appropriate sentence. To determine a fitting
punishment based on fairness and proportion, I have to consider several factors, namely
Disclaimer
Extreme care has been used to create this document, however the contents are provided “as is”
without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The author assumes no liability as
a result of reliance and use of the contents of this document. This document is to be used for
comparison, research and reference purposes ONLY. No part of this document may be
reproduced, resold or transmitted in any form or by any means.
