Delay in prosecution must be taken into account in sentencing, even where the offender was not in a state of suspense or demonstrating rehabilitation, because it is in the public interest that those suspected of serious crime be brought to justice quickly. For drug importation offences involving trafficable quantities of cocaine, a sentence of 12 years for an offender one rung above a courier falls outside the legitimate range once allowance is made for unexplained delay in prosecution. Age and prior good character are of lesser moment in drug importation cases.
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