For assault occasioning bodily harm in company and grievous bodily harm arising from drunken violence at licensed premises, the appropriate sentencing range for offenders aged 24 with good antecedents and timely guilty pleas is two to four years imprisonment with early suspension. A sentencing judge errs by imposing the same sentence for assault occasioning bodily harm in company as for the more serious offence of grievous bodily harm on the same indictment. Deterrence is an important sentencing consideration for unprovoked violence in public places against employees performing their lawful duties.
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