[2020] KEHC 4698 (KLR)
The High Court found that the trial court erred by failing to consider key mitigating factors in sentencing the appellant, specifically his status as a first offender, the period he had already spent in custody, and the recovery of the stolen motorcycle. These omissions constituted errors of law and fact, justifying...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEHC 4698 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Erick Shivoko Khakame; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Bungoma
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 97 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- sentence reduced; appellant released unless otherwise lawfully held
- Judges
- SN Riechi
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Principles, Mitigating Factors, Aggravating Factors, Plea of Guilty
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Erick Shivoko Khakame
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence of four years imprisonment imposed on the appellant was harsh and unsafe.
- 2 Whether the trial court failed to consider relevant mitigating factors, including the appellant being a first offender, time spent in custody, and recovery of the stolen property.
Ratio Decidendi
The High Court found that the trial court erred by failing to consider key mitigating factors in sentencing the appellant, specifically his status as a first offender, the period he had already spent in custody, and the recovery of the stolen motorcycle. These omissions constituted errors of law and fact, justifying appellate interference. The court held that the sentence of four years imprisonment was manifestly excessive in the circumstances and reduced the sentence to the period already served, ordering the appellant's immediate release unless otherwise lawfully held.
Court Disposition
sentence reduced; appellant released unless otherwise lawfully held
Orders
- The sentence of four years imprisonment is reduced to the period already served.
- The appellant is to be released unless otherwise held on other lawful warrants.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
27 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 97 OF 2018
ERICK SHIVOKO KHAKAME....................................APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC.....................................................................RESPONDENT
(Being appeal from the judgement (conviction and sentence) of Hon. L.N Kiniale, SRM, delivered on 11/09/2018 in the Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court at Sirisia in Criminal Case No. 943 of 2018, R v. Erick Shivoko Khakame )
J U D G M E N T
1. The appellant has appealed against his sentence of four (4) years imprisonment in respect of the offence of burglary contrary to section 304 (2) and stealing contrary to section 279 (b) of Penal Code (Cap 63) Laws of Kenya.
2. The appellant has raised four grounds in his petition of appeal in this court.
3. In this court, the appellant abandoned all the grounds of appeal except the ground that challenged the sentence that he now has stated that it was harsh and unsafe. In this regard, it is important to point out that the appellant was convicted on his own plea of guilty of the composite offence of burglary and stealing a motor cycle valued at Kshs 110,000/=.
4. He was then sentenced to four (4) years imprisonment.
5. In his mitigation, the appellant told the court that he had ulcers. He also told the court that he had a family of four children who depended upon him. The prosecutor also told the court that the appellant was a first offender. The stolen motor cycle was recovered in Nakuru using a tracking device, which had been fitted in the said motor cycle.
6. In sentencing the appellant, the trial court stated that it noted the mitigation. The court found that he was not remorseful despite having pleaded guilty. The court then proceeded to sentence him to four years’ imprisonment.
7. In sentencing the appellant, the trial court was required to take into account both the mitigating and aggravating factors and the circumstances of the case.
8. The mitigating factors are self-evident, and I need not replicate them. The mitigating factors were considered except that his being a first offender was not taken into account. Additionally, the fact that he had been in custody since 6th September 2018 was also not taken into account as mandatorily required of it by section 333 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap 75) Laws of Kenya. The custody period translated into about three months. Finally, the fact that the motor cycle was recovered was not taken into account. These in essence were the mitigating factors that were not considered.
9. The aggravating factors were that the offence was committed at night and that the owner was deprived of its use before it was released to him by the court on 11/09/2018.
10. After taking into account all the foregoing matters, I find that this court is entitled to interfere with the sentencing discretion of the trial court for those errors of law and fact that were committed by the trial court.
11. In the premises, I find that the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive and is hereby reduced to the one that the appellant has already served with the result that he is hereby ordered released unless otherwise held on other lawful warrants.
Judgement signed and dated at Narok this 12th day of March, 2020.
J. M. Bwonwong’a
Judge
And
Judgement signed, dated and delivered in open court at Bungoma this 1st day of April,2020.
S. N. Riechi
Judge
1/4/2020