R v Tavo CA500/05

In the case of R v Tavo CA500/05, Viliami Naupoto Tavo was convicted of one count of doing an indecent act by the jury in the Manukau District Court. Tavo was sentenced to six months imprisonment, with leave to apply for home detention. Tavo appealed against both his conviction and sentence, although the appeal against conviction was abandoned before the hearing. The legal issue before the Court of Appeal was whether the sentence imposed by the District Court was manifestly excessive and/or inappropriate. The Court found that the sentence was within the range available to the sentencing judge and was not inappropriate in the circumstances of the case. The appeal against sentence was dismissed. The Court revoked Tavo's bail and ordered him to present himself to the Registrar of the District Court at Manukau at 10.00am on Friday 12 May 2006 to serve his sentence. If Tavo fails to present himself, a warrant is to issue forthwith for his arrest.