In R v Mangelsdorf, R v Perry and R v Richards (1995) 66 SASR 60, the Court of Criminal Appeal heard and upheld three simultaneous appeals by the Director of Public Prosecutions against inadequate sentences imposed in lower courts.

Mangelsdorf was a 32 year old 'street trader' found in possession of fifteen 'tastes' of heroin who admitted selling 'tastes' for about 2 months to finance his own addiction. Notwithstanding a previous 'clean' record and good prospects for rehabilitation a suspended term of imprisonment was increased to 4 years, with a non-parole period of 18 months, unsuspended.

Perry was a 20 year old without previous convictions. Following intercepts of phone conversations he was convicted of conspiring to trade in LSD. He had a 'clean' record, and a number of other personal factors in his favour. He received a 2 years 6 months suspended term of imprisonment with an order that he perform community service work.

Richards was originally given a suspended sentence for possession of about 8 kg of cannabis and 80 g of cannabis resin for purpose of sale. This was increased to four years imprisonment, with a minimum of two years to serve.