2015年3月31日星期二

大老爺蒙羞

在上一篇我批評法官的上訴判辭冗贅費時,那純粹是我看判辭的印象。今天在司法機構工作的朋友看了上一篇文,告訴我這種情況將會改變,由上至下,都會在判辭的形式及著眼點著手,把判辭寫得精簡。這將會是司法機構的德政,再不用不必要地浪費時間,我也希望不用花太多時間去看這些篇幅大可減半的上訴。當然,這需要由上大人做起。不胡亂挑剔下級法院法官,不要作慣性的批評,而要實際地去看案情,不要高高在上就率性而行,隨口胡謅。這種上訴判辭屢見不鮮,往往對錯難分,只是觀點不同的問題。你是上級要罵下級,人家當然反駁無從,明眼人看有時會啼笑皆非。

慣於批評的人,有時也會鬧出很諷刺的笑話。舉個實例,已退休的上訴庭副庭長在退休後被委任為高院暫委法官的Stuart-Moore,他主審大角咀逆子殺父母案,次被告謝臻麒獲陪審團判謀殺罪不成立後,大老爺批評警方對次被告處理不公,拘留他40小時後再為他錄取8小時的口供。姑勿論陪審團這裁決是否白白放過了另一個喪盡天良的殺人魔,畢竟是陪審團的判決,我不能置喙。可是,Stuart-Moore自己在voir dire時,容許控方在次被告反對下把供辭呈堂,那表示Stuart-Moore覺得供辭在自願情況下錄取,也無不公平之處,到頭來卻指責警察處理不公,大老爺大概是老眼昏花,批評批上癮,而忘記了在自打嘴巴。He looks so stupid. 不明箇中緣故的市民又會以為警察又做了甚麽不當的事。如果大老爺一開始就覺得警方錄取口供手法不公正,大可以拒絕證供呈堂。可見有時慣於批評的人,順口雌黃,使自己蒙羞。

別以為我講蒙羞是為了裁判官黃汝榮(Symone Wong)報仇,我寫了九篇題為「令司法機構蒙羞」的文,對Symone事件的評論也告一段落,這次短暫留港也沒有跟Symone碰頭。標少一介小市民,對不公平事有膽量評論,卻不會借公論滲私怨,乘機去做打手。其實看不過眼的判辭偶有遇到,有些上大人喜歡把下級肆意批評,在這方面司法機構有必要對高院法官提供正確的訓練,減少這類肆意批評的判辭的產生,  提升整體的質素。

10 則留言:

  1. 根據傳媒報道,大角咀逆子殺父母案,次被告謝臻麒有份參與買兇器,如果律政司有報多他一條串謀謀殺罪,是大可能成立的。如果有人自首,一般來說(非佔中的特別例子)都會講事實的全部,所以警方當時可能都信另一被告的供詞。即使是陪審團,都未必能清楚分別謀殺及串謀謀殺的分別,可況智商較低的次被告
    我反而想講,招生想用傳媒的片段脫罪,但記協就批評警方用傳媒作引,這是甚麼雙重標準。記者需要維持其他人自由,就不需要維持香港的治安嗎?或者說傳媒不應有應有的道德責任嗎?
    外國傳媒不是將所有遊行示威都報道的,即使是大型的。如果傳媒選擇報道,就有義務有機會成為證人
    就我所見示威者的罪行而言,好多時不是被告無罪,而是被告告錯罪行,警方記事冊不見了
    被捕的人通常要等大量時間才被檢控,律政司有大量時間去裁定檢控與否
    起示威做成的罪行中(不只是指佔中),大量人犯了法,少量人被檢控,更少的人被定罪。而這類型的罪行,有大量警察在場,大量片段(包括警方傳媒cctv等),起普通人心目中(都適用於好多罪行)犯了法就應被定罪,難免會有人覺得警拉人官放人的感覺。
    雖然現時律政司檢控政策已比以前透明,但相對其他國家,仍有不足。如起英國,檢控示威者需考慮公罪利益的因素就透明得多,見下
    相對其他國家,香港判示威者的刑罰明顯過輕,我相信未來上訴庭判刑指引一定加重刑罰
    都可以預見,好快有示威者的案件去到終審庭,到時可能有更明確的指引
    http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/public_protests/
    The list of public interest factors to consider as set out below in this paragraph and paragraph 22 are not exhaustive. Prosecutors must also have regard to the public interest considerations set out in the Code. Prosecutors should bear in mind that a prosecution for offences committed during a public protest is more likely to be required where:

    Violent acts were committed that caused injury or it is reasonable to believe they could have caused injury;
    The suspect took a leading role in and/or encouraged others to commit violent acts;
    The suspect was in possession of a weapon at the time of the offence;
    The suspect took steps to conceal their identity;
    Significant disruption was caused to the public and businesses;
    Significant damage was caused to property;
    The suspect has a previous history of causing violence, damage, disruption or making threats at public protests;
    Threats were made against an individual or business that caused or it is reasonable to believe they could have caused alarm, fear or distress.
    Applying the public interest factors set out in the Code, prosecutors should bear in mind that a prosecution is less likely to be required where:

    The public protest was essentially peaceful;
    The suspect had no more than a minor role;
    The suspect has no previous relevant history of offending at public protests or in general;
    The act committed was minor;
    The act committed was instinctive and in the heat of the moment.

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    1. 從近年的檢控可見,在社會/政治運動中被檢控的人,少得可憐,檢控極之寬鬆,使用英國的凖則,會有大量人被控。

      判刑指引不會來自終審法院,那不是終審法院的功能。

      傳媒有新聞自由,從來都不覺得有任何責任,你想也別想。

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    2. 我所指是終審庭的這單案Yeung May-wan v HKSAR
      對執法人員的指引並不清晰

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  2. Do you have any comments on this?

    http://nextplus.nextmedia.com/topics/江胡恩怨/20150123/142296

    江希文自舊年年底同胡漢清決裂後,一直被人抹黑,最新被指染有惡習。但係喺一段錄音入面,有把男聲承認自己「隊草」,「我有咩啫,X,都通晒天,我個女都講我隊草,有乜X啫!」



    「都通晒天,我個女都講我隊草。」嘩!連阿女都知呀!問到江希文,佢就有咁嘅回應:「我諗你哋自己聽下,自己分析下呢把聲係邊個,同佢自己喺度講咩啦!我真係忍無可忍,點可以三番四次被人屈你同誣蔑你。你睇下邊個依家有惡習呀,有人自己把口話自己有惡習,跟住就嚟話我有惡習,誣蔑我,我真係覺得好離譜!」

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    1. Of course no comment. I am never interested in Alan Hoo's private life.

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    2. 香港傳媒日日正事不做, 八卦呢類咁多無謂野, 係記者太得閒, 定香港人真係好無聊?

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  3. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Short-Book-Judges-Wildy-Classics/dp/0854901418
    香港好像沒有這一類題材? 我對judicial conduct/ temperament/ feminism 沒有研究,但光讀title就覺得吸引。可能也是八卦? hahaha, hearing stories is often fun, but we keep ourselves within the rules.
    誠邀標少撰寫。
    PHLI

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  4. http://hkm.appledaily.com/detail.php?issue=20150402&guid=53594897&category_guid=6996647&category=instant
    想問標少,這類因裁判官不信警員證詞而要求轉介CAPO的例子常見嗎?另外如果裁判官認為警員有砌生豬肉之嫌,為何只要求CAPO調查而不直接要求DOJ考慮刑事檢控警員perjury?

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    1. 程序而言,我覺得應該叫 DoJ採取行動,以免給人一種法官介入的印象。

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