Where an offence of grievous bodily harm with intent falls within the worst category, pre-amendment sentencing ranges have little bearing on whether the sentence is manifestly excessive, and a sentence of 9 years (less than half the 20-year maximum) is within the sound exercise of sentencing discretion notwithstanding an early guilty plea and youth. A total effective sentence of 11 years for multifaceted offending involving kidnapping, prolonged torture and abandonment of the victim does not breach the first limb of the totality principle.
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