High Court of Malawi - 2003 May

5 judgments
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Results. 5 judgments found.

5 judgments
May 2003
Assessment after default judgment: plaintiff awarded K75,000 for permanent hand disability and loss of amenities.
  • ["Personal injury — assessment of general damages under a default judgment","Default judgment — assessment may proceed in absence of defendant if properly served","Permanent disability — medical incapacity assessed at 45% equating to loss of hand","Damages — reliance on comparable awards and consideration of currency devaluation","Costs awarded to plaintiff — to be taxed if not agreed"]
31 May 2003
Failure to read an amended charge and obtain a plea vitiates conviction for that amended offence; original theft conviction remains.
  • Criminal procedure — Amendment of charge — s151 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code — amended charge must be noted, read and accused called to plead — failure to plead to amended offence vitiates conviction — original unaltered theft conviction unaffected
28 May 2003
A qualified or brief guilty plea that denies an essential element undermines a housebreaking conviction; theft conviction confirmed.
  • Criminal law — guilty plea requirements — magistrate must put each element to accused; qualification can undermine plea — housebreaking/burglary requires breaking and entry — sentencing principles for burglary; starting points and minimum custodial sentences
28 May 2003
Appeal against conviction dismissed; medical reports inadmissible for non‑compliance with s.180, but oral evidence upheld convictions; sentences reduced and ordered concurrent.
  • Criminal law — unlawful wounding and malicious damage — admissions and victim oral testimony as proof; Evidence — expert/medical reports, admissibility under s.180 Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code — service requirement; Appellate review — deference to trial court on credibility; Sentencing — reduction and ordering concurrent sentences where offences committed in quick succession
27 May 2003
Conviction for robbery and conspiracy set aside where accomplice evidence and alleged police admissions lacked proper support and warnings.
  • Criminal law — appeal on facts — sufficiency of evidence for robbery and conspiracy; circumstantial evidence; accomplice testimony — duty to warn; admissibility and weight of alleged admissions and silence at police without caution; sentencing — concurrent versus consecutive sentences
25 May 2003