A notice of abandonment of an appeal against sentence may be declared a nullity where the applicant was suffering from active schizophrenic psychosis at the time of signing, such that the applicant's mind did not go with the act of abandonment. Post-sentence development of schizophrenia, where the risk of developing the condition was identified at sentencing, throws a different light on circumstances existing at the time of sentence and may warrant appellate intervention to reduce the sentence.
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