[2015] KEHC 4025 (KLR)
The court found that, despite the absence of medical evidence directly proving the cause of death, the cumulative circumstantial evidence—including the accused being seen with blood-stained maize, the discovery of the deceased's body in the room where he used to sleep, the alleged confession, and the recovery of...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEHC 4025 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Clinton Ingaji Tari; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisii
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 6 of 2009
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Ruling on Prima Facie Case at Close of Prosecution Case
- Outcome
- Accused to be put on his defence; prosecution established a prima facie case.
- Judges
- J Wakiaga
- Legal Topics
- Murder, Prima Facie Case, Criminal Procedure, Burden of Proof
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Clinton Ingaji Tari
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Ruling on Prima Facie Case at Close of Prosecution Case
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the prosecution established a prima facie case against the accused to warrant being put on his defence.
- 2 Whether the absence of medical evidence of death precludes a finding of a prima facie case.
- 3 Whether circumstantial evidence and alleged confession are sufficient to establish a prima facie case.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that, despite the absence of medical evidence directly proving the cause of death, the cumulative circumstantial evidence—including the accused being seen with blood-stained maize, the discovery of the deceased's body in the room where he used to sleep, the alleged confession, and the recovery of stolen items—was sufficient to establish a prima facie case against the accused. The court held that the prosecution had met the threshold required under Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure Code to put the accused on his defence. The decision was based on the totality of the evidence presented, which, if unchallenged, could potentially sustain a conviction. The accused was...
Court Disposition
Accused to be put on his defence; prosecution established a prima facie case.
Orders
- The accused is hereby placed on his defence in accordance with Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KISII
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 6 OF 2009
BETWEEN
CLINTON INGAJI TARI…............................................................. APPELLANT
AND
REPUBLIC …................................................................................. RESPONDENT
JUDGMENT
1. The accused CLINTON INGAJI TARI who charged with the offence of murder contrary to Section 2013 as read with Section 214 of the Penal Code the particulars of which were that on 12th day of January 2009 at Ekerubo village in Borabu District within Nyanza Province murdered Ronald Kirage Aenda.
2. He pleaded not guilty to the said charges and his trial commenced before Musinga J as he then was on 10/5/2010 wherein he took the evidence of three prosecution witnesses on 8/11/2011 the matter proceeded further before Hon. Sitati J who took the evidence of pw4.
3. On 6/5/2013 Muriithi J took the evidence of Pw5 and on 19. 5.2015 I declined to grant further adjournment herein thereby causing the state to close its case.
4. The issue therefore for determination is whether the state has made up a prima facie case to enable the accused to be put on his defence.
5. It was submitted by Mr. Omwenga for the accused that no medical evidence had been produced to prove that the deceased died and that among all the prosecution witnesses none saw the accused person kill the deceased.
6. On behalf of the state Pw1's evidence was that he had employed the deceased whom he sacked and employed the deceased. On 12/1/2009 he was called and told that his store had been broken into and his worker (the accused) missing. Pw2's evidence was that the accused was not in the compound in January 2009 and had never visited the home for over one (1) year after he was sacked.
7. It was Pw2's evidence that the following day she was called by the Tom who used to work at the pw1's home from Manga and told that he had met the accused with some maize and he was blood stained and that caused her to scream attacking people who checked the room where the deceased used to sleep and found the body on the bed covered by black polythene paper.
8. It was pw3 evidence that when arrested the accused allegedly made confession using Mf1. Pw4 arrested the accused and recovered the items stolen from Pw1's home the day the deceased was killed which evidence was confirmed by Pw4.
9. From the evidence tendered by the prosecution and as analyzed herein above I am satisfied that the prosecution has made a prima facie case to enable the accused person be placed on his defence in accordance with Section 306 of the criminal procedure code which I hereby do. It is now upon the accused person with the assistance of his legal counsel to decide how he wishes to defend himself.
Delivered, signed and dated at Kisii this 2nd day of July 2015.
J. WAKIAGA
JUDGE
In the presence of:
Mr. Ondari for Mr. Omwega advocate for the accused.
Mr. Mojale for the state.