Where counsel at a plea hearing deliberately declines to submit that an offender is remorseful, the sentencing judge's finding of lack of remorse will not be disturbed on appeal merely because character references contain statements of remorse. Criminal offending arising from an industrial dispute cannot be mitigated by characterising it as occurring 'in the course of' the dispute where the criminal conduct was unnecessary to pursue the dispute. Good character and community contributions, while relevant, cannot justify light sentences for deliberate, premeditated offences committed by a person of intelligence who ought to have apprehended the likely harm.
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