[2019] KEHC 2295 (KLR)
The High Court found that the trial court made an arithmetical error by deducting one year and one month from four years and arriving at three years and eleven months, instead of the correct period of two years and eleven months. The error was apparent on the face of the record and warranted correction. The court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 2295 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Erick Kirunja Njeru; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nanyuki
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 26 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal_allowed_in_part
- Judges
- DW Mbuteti
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Error, Arithmetical Mistake, Correction of Sentence
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Erick Kirunja Njeru
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the trial court made an arithmetical error in deducting the period already served from the total sentence imposed on the appellant.
- 2 Whether the sentence should be corrected to reflect the accurate period to be served.
Ratio Decidendi
The High Court found that the trial court made an arithmetical error by deducting one year and one month from four years and arriving at three years and eleven months, instead of the correct period of two years and eleven months. The error was apparent on the face of the record and warranted correction. The court set aside the sentence of three years and eleven months and substituted it with a sentence of two years and eleven months, effective from the original date of sentencing. The appeal was allowed to that limited extent only.
Court Disposition
appeal_allowed_in_part
Orders
- The sentence of three years and eleven months imprisonment imposed upon the appellant is set aside.
- A sentence of two years and eleven months imprisonment is substituted in its place, effective from 25/05/2018.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NANYUKI
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO 26 OF 2018
ERICK KIRUNJA NJERU........................................................APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC..............................................................................RESPONDENT
(Appeal from original Sentence dated 25/05/2018 in Nanyuki CM
Criminal Case No 358 of 2017 – E Ngigi, SRM)
J U D G M E N T
1. The Appellant herein, ERICK KIRUNJA NJERU, was convicted after trial of stealing a motor cycle contrary to section 278A of the Penal Code. On 25/05/2018 he was sentenced as follows:-
“…Accordingly, the Accused shall serve four years imprisonment. He has already been in custody for one year and one month, and which period is deducted from his sentence. Accordingly, the Accused to serve 3 years and 11 months.”
The Appellant has appealed only against the sentence, specifically, that apparent arithmetical error committed by the trial court in arriving at 3 years and 11 months.
2. If you deduct 1 year and one month from 4 years, you will remain with 2 years and 11 months, NOT 3 years and 11 months! This is an error on the face of the record which I am happy to correct.
3. The sentence of 3 years and 11 months imprisonment imposed upon the Appellant is hereby set aside, and a sentence of 2 years and 11 months substituted in its place. This shall be with effect from the date of sentencing, that is, 25/05/2018. To that limited extent only is the appeal against sentence allowed. It is so ordered.
DATED AND SIGNED AT NANYUKI THIS 6TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2019
H P G WAWERU
JUDGE
DELIVERED AT NANYUKI THIS 7TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2019