A finding that an offender's prospects of rehabilitation are low is not an adverse finding requiring proof beyond reasonable doubt; rather, it is for the offender to prove on the balance of probabilities that rehabilitation prospects are sufficiently good to be taken into account as a mitigating factor. Evidence of remorse based on hearsay or the opinions of others without hard facts should generally be given little credence; such evidence is generally only persuasive when given by the offender personally.
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