[2006] KEHC 129 (KLR)
The High Court held that the sentence of 15 years imprisonment imposed by the trial magistrate for defilement of a 6-year-old minor was not excessive and was, in fact, lenient considering the circumstances, including the infection of the victim with a sexually transmitted disease. The appellate court found no basis...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2006] KEHC 129 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Benson Oyie; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nakuru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 276 of 2004
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Judges
- LK Kimaru
- Legal Topics
- Defilement of Minors, Sentencing Principles, Judicial Discretion, Sexual Offences
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Benson Oyie
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence of 15 years imprisonment for defilement of a minor was excessive and warranted reduction.
- 2 Whether the trial magistrate exercised judicial discretion properly in sentencing the appellant.
Ratio Decidendi
The High Court held that the sentence of 15 years imprisonment imposed by the trial magistrate for defilement of a 6-year-old minor was not excessive and was, in fact, lenient considering the circumstances, including the infection of the victim with a sexually transmitted disease. The appellate court found no basis to interfere with the trial court's exercise of discretion in sentencing, as there was no evidence of wrongful or unlawful exercise of that discretion. The appeal against sentence was therefore dismissed, and the conviction and sentence were confirmed.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal against sentence is dismissed.
- The conviction and sentence of the trial magistrate delivered on 9th June, 2004 are confirmed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
18 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAKURU
Criminal Appeal 276 of 2004
BENSON OYIE……………………………………..APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC………………………………………..RESPONDENT
(From the original conviction and sentence of the Senior Resident Magistrate’s court at Narok in Criminal case No.594 of 2003 – S.M.Githinji – S.R.M)
JUDGMENT
The appellant, Benson Oyie was charged with the offence of Defilement of a girl contrary to Section 145(1) of the Penal Code. The particulars of the offence were that on the 11th of September, 2003 at Ololopa area, Enabelbel Narok District, the appellant unlawfully had carnal knowledge of Muhindi Nampaso, a girl under the age of 16 years. He was alternatively charged with the offence of Indecent Assault on a female contrary to Section 144 (1) of the Penal Code. The particulars of the offence were that on the same day and in the same place, the appellant unlawfully and indecently assaulted Muhindi Nampaso a girl under the age of 16 years by touching her private parts. The appellant pleaded not guilty to the charge and after a full trial he was convicted on the main count of defilement. He was sentenced to serve 15 years imprisonment with hard labour. The appellant was aggrieved by his conviction and sentence and has appealed to this court.
Although the appellant in his petition of appeal appealed against both conviction and sentence, at the hearing of the appeal he abandoned his appeal against conviction and instead pleaded with this court to reduce the sentence that was imposed upon him by the trial magistrate. He told the court that the sentence was too long. He urged this court to review the sentence in view of the problems that he had undergone while in prison. Mr. Mugambi, learned State counsel, opposed the appeal on sentence. He submitted that the sentence that was imposed on the appellant by the trial magistrate was lenient in the circumstances putting into consideration the fact that the appellant had defiled a minor aged 6 years. He urged this court not to interfere with the said sentence.
I have considered the submissions made before me by the appellant and the response thereto made by the Mr. Mugambi on behalf of the State. As stated earlier in this judgment, the appellant is not appealing against conviction. He is only appealing against the sentence. He however pleaded with this court to reduce the term of imprisonment that was imposed by the trial magistrate. This court is therefore being called upon to reconsider the sentence that was imposed upon the appellant by the trial magistrate. When a magistrate sentences an accused person, he is exercising judicial discretion. An appellate court will not interfere with the exercise of discretion by a trial court unless it is established by the appellant that the trial magistrate exercised his discretion wrongly or in breach of the law.
In the present appeal, the appellant was convicted for defiling a minor aged 6 years. The appellant infected her with a sexually transmitted decease. Taking into account the entire facts of this case, the sentence of 15 years imprisonment imposed was lenient in the circumstances. Had the State given a notice of enhancement of sentence to the appellant before this appeal was argued, this court would have been inclined to consider such a request for enhancement of sentence. As it were, no such notice was given to the appellant before the hearing of the appeal.
In the circumstances of this case therefore, I do not find merit with the appeal filed by the appellant. The appeal against conviction and sentence is hereby dismissed. The conviction and sentence of the trial magistrate delivered on the 9th of June, 2004 is hereby confirmed.
It is so ordered.
DATED at NAKURU this 24th day of November, 2006
L. KIMARU
JUDGE