Source: (2000) [2000] NZCA 40. 8 March.
The judgment of the New Zealand Court of Appeal in this case dealt with an appeal of a conviction and sentencing for theft and aggravated robbery. The appellant argued that the sentences were excessive in light of particular circumstances. Some of those circumstances included actions on the part of the offender – for example, his writing a letter of apology to the victims to express his remorse, contrition, and shame; and his participation in a community group conference (without the presence of the victims) in which he offered to make amends for the harm caused by his actions. While the Court of Appeal explicitly did not express general opposition to the concept of restorative justice, the Court upheld the original sentencing and rejected the appeal.
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