A sentencing judge must not effectively rule out the availability of a suspended sentence for an offence of grievous bodily harm based solely on the perceived seriousness of the offence; the same considerations relevant to the imposition of imprisonment must be revisited in determining whether to suspend the term. Findings of fact relied upon in sentencing must be supported by the evidence. The sentencing range for unlawful grievous bodily harm under s 297 of the Criminal Code (WA) is 3 to 5 years, but each case depends on its own circumstances, and there is no tariff for the offence.
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