Kumar v R

In Kumar v R, the Court of Appeal of New Zealand dismissed the appeals of Shivneel Kumar and Bryne Permal against their convictions for the murder of Shalvin Prasad. Both appellants were found guilty of murdering Mr Prasad by setting him alight while he was still alive. The Court upheld the trial judge's directions to the jury on the one transaction theory of murder, rejecting the appellants' argument that the Crown had not proven its case according to the leading authorities. The Court also dismissed the appellants' appeals against the minimum periods of imprisonment imposed, finding that the circumstances of the offending justified the 17-year minimum term. The Court held that the murder was committed with a high level of cruelty and callousness, and that the appellants were fully cognisant of their conduct and its consequences.