Life expectancy to decide jail sentence

A Darwin Magistrate has called for the life expectancy of a man suffering a terminal illness to be known before considering any possible jail sentence.

In the Darwin Magistrate's Court this morning, sentencing submissions were heard from a group of people from the "Network Against Prohibition", found guilty of disrupting the Territory Parliament during sittings in May last year.

They claimed they were frustrated at the Territory Government's proposed new laws on drugs.

During court hearings over the past few months, members of the group called for evidence from a number of Territory politicians, including the Chief Minister Clare Martin and the Attorney-General Peter Toyne.

Today, the magistrate Dick Wallace told the court, prison sentences were likely and he needed to know the life expectancy of one of the accused, before he could determine a fair punishment.

The cases have been adjourned until June 5 for sentencing.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Friday 23rd May 2003
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation News Online (Australia)
Website: http://www.abc.net.au
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