判刑理由書撮要(由AI生成)
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The judgment notes that the anti-extradition bill protests escalated in 2019, and following the siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 18 November, hundreds of defendants violently clashed with the police at the junction of Austin Road, Jordan Road and Nathan Road, deploying weapons such as bricks, steel rods and petrol bombs. They repeatedly ignored warnings, causing the paralysis of public transport and serious disruption to social order. The defendants, who were well educated and came prepared, are charged with rioting and additionally face two counts of possessing offensive weapons.
The maximum penalty for rioting is 10 years’ imprisonment, with a starting point of 5 years, which may be increased in more serious cases, primarily to deter collective violence.
In considering the scale of the protests, the use of weapons, the social impact and the defendants’ backgrounds, although remorse and no prior convictions are noted, severe punishment is still required to uphold the rule of law and public safety, and to demonstrate deterrent effect.
It is regrettable to punish young defendants, but to protect the public interest and social peace, it is essential to uphold legal principles and to demonstrate the rule of law and deterrence.
The eight defendants were sentenced to immediate imprisonment for terms ranging from 44 to 56 months, with the exact sentence determined by their level of participation in the riot and individual circumstances. (Translated from Chinese to English by AI)
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