律師馬鹿(化名, aka Maro)告訴我以胸襲警案要上訴到終審法院, Wow, 我原先以為這件案已蓋棺無得再寫, 殊不知又有新發展。以甚麼理由去上訴呢? 暫時未有分曉。先要讚馬老大幾句, 他以前曾經給我狠罵, 很不客氣地罵(佢條友鬧我一樣咁勁), 他夠器量, 我比他小器得多, 他不念舊惡, 改名換姓後時常以第一身把庭上所見及他所知告訴我, 這一次是他通知我我才知道。上訴到終審法院只有兩個理由, 主要的理由是案件涉及「法律論點」一環(point of law limb), 法律論點即是要「涉及具有重大而廣泛的重要性的法律論點」(法例第484章《終審法院條例》第32條), 次要的理由是「顯示曾有實質及嚴重的不公平情況」, 這兩環(limbs)的重要性並不一樣, 終審法院主要考慮法律論點而非案情事實, 所以用不同環節申請, 程序有點不同。終審法院第一宗刑事案上訴就定出程序來。在曾亮新 訴 香港特別行政區一案(ZENG LIANG XIN and HKSAR FAMC 1/1997), 判辭第34段列出有關程序:
Ds would need to overcome the first hurdle
ie Rule 7 CFA Rules
《香港終審法院規則》第7條這樣寫:
(1) 凡司法常務官應答辯人的申請而認為或自行認為某項申請並無顯示合理的給予上訴許可的理由,或是瑣屑無聊或不符合本規則的,則他可向申請人發出傳票,傳召他在上訴委員會席前提出為何不應駁回其申請的因由。
他所指第一關要過的是上列規則這一關, 言下之意上訴理由是「顯示曾有實質及嚴重的不公平情況」的一環, 若涉及「法律論點」一環, 第一關要過的是聽審上訴的張慧玲法官這一關, 因為要向她申請證明書(certificate), 然後才可向終院申請上訴許可。申請上訴的實際論據我沒有本事估, 要頒佈判辭時才可看到。這樣高深的東西我都唔識估喇, 我只知道街就唔使掃住, 要等司法程序完結後才知有沒有需要履行社會服務令。當然有人會覺得唔使坐監改判掃街或感化咁便宜仲去上訴, 豈有此理, 這就是我們可以炫耀的法治, 權利保障充足, 公正開明。
曾經有條友留言大讚大陸的法治好, 佢驚我無命睇到, 話如果我未死, 十年八年後會超越香港, 我誇下海口, 相約二十八年後華山論劍, 畀夠廿八年佢超英趕美, 睇下佢在法治方面有無咁把炮可以將香港比下去。我自己就注意飲食健康, 強身健體, 確保廿八年後有命印證。我為何要扯這東西來講呢? 喺大陸, 若果發生這種事, 打你一鑊之後你認罪並會講服從判罰不會上訴, 仲有得上訴完又上訴? 咪身在福中不知福喇!
34. It may assist if we set out the position resulting from this construction:
(1) Where an applicant relies on only the "point of law" limb, he should apply to the lower court for the certificate. If granted by the lower court, he should then apply to the Court of Final Appeal for leave. If declined by the lower court, he then applies to the Court of Final Appeal for the certificate and for leave.
(2) Where an applicant relies on only the "substantial and grave injustice" limb, he must apply straight to the Court of Final Appeal for leave. The application is not one for any certificate.
(3) Where an applicant wishes to rely on both limbs:
(a) He should apply to the lower court for the certificate for the "point of law" limb.
(b) If granted, he should then apply to the Court of Final Appeal for leave (i) on the basis of the certificate and (ii) raising the "substantial and grave injustice" limb. The Appeal Committee will then decide whether to grant leave and, if so, whether on both limbs or one of them.
馬鹿在上一篇留言提及:(c) If the lower court refuses to grant the certificate, then the applicant should apply to the Court of Final Appeal (i) for a certificate for the "point of law" limb and (ii) for leave on the basis of firstly the certificate (if granted) and secondly, the "substantial and grave injustice" limb. The Court can then decide on whether to grant leave and, if leave is granted, whether on both limbs or one of them.
Ds would need to overcome the first hurdle
ie Rule 7 CFA Rules
《香港終審法院規則》第7條這樣寫:
章: | 484A | 標題: | 《香港終審法院規則》 | 憲報編號: | L.N. 384 of 1997 |
條: | 7 | 條文標題: | 並無顯示合理的上訴理由的、瑣屑無聊的或不符合本規則的申請 | 版本日期: | 01/07/1997 |
(2) 上訴委員會在考慮有關事項後,可命令駁回申請或發出在案中秉持公正所需的其他指示。