[1991] KECA 17 (KLR)
The Court of Appeal held that the trial judge had properly considered all relevant circumstances, including the appellant's plea of guilty, the facts of the offence, and the period the appellant had already spent in custody. The court found no basis to conclude that the sentence of 8 years imprisonment was...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1991] KECA 17 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Alexander Muteshi; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Court Station
- Court of Appeal at Malindi
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- ? 123 of 1990
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Sentence After Conviction on Plea of Guilty
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Manslaughter, Sentencing Principles, Plea of Guilty, Mitigating Factors
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Alexander Muteshi
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Sentence After Conviction on Plea of Guilty
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence of 8 years imprisonment for manslaughter was manifestly excessive to warrant interference by the appellate court.
Ratio Decidendi
The Court of Appeal held that the trial judge had properly considered all relevant circumstances, including the appellant's plea of guilty, the facts of the offence, and the period the appellant had already spent in custody. The court found no basis to conclude that the sentence of 8 years imprisonment was manifestly excessive or that the trial judge had erred in principle. Consequently, the appellate court declined to interfere with the sentence imposed by the High Court and dismissed the appeal as lacking merit.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal is dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL
AT MOMBASA
(Coram: Gachuhi, Cockar JJ.A. & Omolo Ag. J.A.)
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 123 OF 1990
BETWEEN
ALEXANDER MUTESHI.......................................APPELLANT
AND
REPUBLIC................................................RESPON DENT
(Appeal from a conviction and sentence of the High Court of Kenya at Mombasa (Bosire, J.) dated 1/2/90 in Criminal Case No. 5 of 1989)
********************
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
The appellant pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter contrary to section 202 as read with Section 205 of the Penal Code. He was convicted on his plea and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment. He now appeals against the sentence, urging this court to reduce it because, as he put it, it is heavy and excessive and that it will ruin him and his family. The facts which the appellant accepted were that on 4th September, 1988 he picked a quarrel with a workmate resulting in a fight. They were separated. The deceased moved away and sat a distance away. He passed where the deceased was and the deceased rose up. Without any exchange of words, the appellant hit the deceased with a sledge hammer on the left forehead. The deceased died in hospital while undergoing treatment.
The Principal State Counsel supports the conviction but states that the appellant had stayed in custody for 1/2 years before the date of plea, and that the sentence meted out was excessive.
From the record of the proceedings, we note that the trial judge took into consideration the circumstances regarding the charge and the plea of guilty and the period the appellant was in custody before imposing the term of imprisonment. Taking all the facts of this appeal into account, we do not consider that the sentence imposed is manifestly excessive to allow us to interfere with the decision of the trial Judge. The appeal has no merit and we order it to be dismissed.
Dated and delivered at Mombasa this 1st day of February, 1991.
J.M. GACHUHI
............
JUDGE OF APPEAL
A.M. COCKAR
.............
JUDGE OF APPEAL
R.S.C. OMOLO
.............
JUDGE OF APPEAL
I certify that this is
a true copy of the original.
DEPUTY REGISTRAR