[2019] KEHC 6566 (KLR)
The court found that the appellant admitted the charge at the outset and was a first offender, with no previous record presented by the prosecution. The value of the stolen goat was Kshs. 8,500, which is not a high value. The trial court did not sufficiently consider these mitigating factors and imposed a sentence...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 6566 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Charles Ngunyo Gideon; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kitui
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 63 of 2016
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- sentence set aside and substituted with term served; appellant to be released unless otherwise lawfully held
- Judges
- LN Mutende
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Principles, Appeal Against Sentence, First Offender, Stealing Livestock
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Charles Ngunyo Gideon
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed on the appellant was manifestly excessive in the circumstances of the case.
- 2 Whether the trial court considered all relevant factors, including the appellant's status as a first offender and the value of the stolen property.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the appellant admitted the charge at the outset and was a first offender, with no previous record presented by the prosecution. The value of the stolen goat was Kshs. 8,500, which is not a high value. The trial court did not sufficiently consider these mitigating factors and imposed a sentence that was harsh in the circumstances. The appellate court held that the sentence should be set aside and substituted with the term already served, as the appellant had been in custody for three and a half years, which was sufficient punishment given the circumstances.
Court Disposition
sentence set aside and substituted with term served; appellant to be released unless otherwise lawfully held
Orders
- The sentence imposed by the trial court is set aside and substituted with the term already served.
- The appellant shall be set free forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KITUI
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 63 OF 2016
CHARLES NGUNYO GIDEON..............................APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC.............................................................RESPONDENT
(Being an Appeal from Original Sentence inMigwani Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court Criminal Case No. 113 of 2015byHon. M. W. Murage (SRM)on11/11/15)
J U D G M E N T
1. Ngunyu Gideonwas convicted on his own plea of guilty on the 11thday of November, 2015for the offence of Stealing a Goatvalued at Kshs. 8,500/=contrary to Section 118of the Penal Codeand sentenced to serve Five (5) years imprisonment.
2. He now appeals against sentence on the grounds that he is an orphan and a first born in the family and has a duty of taking care of his young family; and he has reformed.
3. In response the State through learned Prosecuting Counsel Mr. Mambaurged that there was no proof that the Appellant had reformed. He asked the Court to let him serve the full term.
4. In the case of Bernard Kimani Gacheru vs. Republic Criminal Appeal No. 188 of 2000the Court stated thus:
“It is now settled law, following several authorities by this Court and by the High Court, that sentence is a matter that rests in the discretion of the trial court. Similarly, sentence must depend on the facts of each case. On appeal, the appellate court will not easily interfere with sentence unless, that sentence is manifestly excessive in the circumstances of the case, or that the trial court overlooked some material factor, or took into account, some wrong material, or acted on a wrong principle. Even if, the Appellate Court feels that the sentence is heavy and that the Appellate Court might itself not have passed that sentence, these alone are not sufficient grounds for interfering with the discretion of the trial court on sentence unless, anyone of the matters already stated is shown to exist.”
5. Looking at the record, the Appellant admitted the charge at the outset, and the Prosecution had no record of Appeal, therefore the Appellant should have been treated as a first offender. The value of the goat that was stolen would also have been taken into consideration. In the premises the sentence was harsh.
6. The Appellant has been in custody for three (3) and a half years. In the result, I set aside the sentence imposed and substitute it with the term served. The Appellant shall be set free forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
7. It is so ordered.
Dated, SignedandDeliveredatKituithis2ndday of May, 2019.
L. N. MUTENDE
JUDGE