[2014] KEHC 8097 (KLR)
The court found that the complainant's evidence, though unsworn due to her mental status, was credible and corroborated by her teachers and medical evidence. The absence of DNA evidence did not undermine the prosecution's case, as the totality of the evidence established the appellant's guilt beyond reasonable...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2014] KEHC 8097 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: G M N; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 40 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence upheld
- Judges
- A Mbogholi-Msagha
- Legal Topics
- Sexual Offences, Incest, Evidence Evaluation, Child Victims
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
G M N
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the prosecution proved the charge of incest by a male person beyond reasonable doubt.
- 2 Whether the absence of DNA evidence or medical linkage to the appellant undermined the conviction.
- 3 Whether the complainant's identification of the appellant was reliable given her mental status and the circumstances.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the complainant's evidence, though unsworn due to her mental status, was credible and corroborated by her teachers and medical evidence. The absence of DNA evidence did not undermine the prosecution's case, as the totality of the evidence established the appellant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The complainant identified the appellant as her father and the perpetrator, and the incident occurred in circumstances where the appellant was the only adult male present. The trial magistrate properly considered and rejected the appellant's defence as a mere denial. The sentence of life imprisonment was justified given the gravity of the offence and the familial...
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence upheld
Orders
- The appeal is dismissed.
- The conviction and sentence of life imprisonment are upheld.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
REPBULIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
CRIMINAL DIVISION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 40 OF 2012
G M N ……………………………APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC …………………………………………………RESPONDENT
(From the original conviction and sentence in Criminal case No.69 of 2011 of the Chief Magistrate’s court at Limuru before M.A. Murage, Chief Magistrate)
JUDGMENT
The appellant G M N was charged with the offence of incest by male person contrary to Section 20 (1) as read with Section 22 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006. In the alternative he was charged with the offence of committing an indecent act with a girl child contrary to Section 11 (1) of the same Act. He denied the offence but after a full trial he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The particulars of the charge were that on the night of 20th January, 2011 at [particulars withheld] Village, Kiambu County he intentionally committed the offence of incest with the complainant who was his daughter aged 12 years old. The record shows that the learned trial magistrate conducted a voir dire examination but noticed that the complainant was mentally retarded, she nevertheless could answer some questions. She decided to allow her give unsworn evidence as she did not appreciate the meaning of an oath.
In her evidence, the complainant said that she was asleep with her brother called Kamau when the appellant who is their father went to their bed, removed her pants and defiled her. She called her mother but the appellant held her mouth.
On the following day she went to school and her teachers noticed her walking with some difficulty. The teachers went to their home, met the grandfather who went to school.The teachers questioned the complainant who then revealed what had transpired. Later, she was taken to hospital where she was treated. She identified the appellant as the person who defiled her.
P.W. 2 is the grandfather of the complainant who narrated how the complainant’s two teachers went to his home and informed him of the incident. He also told the court how he called some neighbours and PW5 the area Assistant Chief who summoned the appellant. When the appellant arrived the complainant identified him but he denied defiling her. The appellant is his son in law.
P.W. 3 and P.W. 4 are the complainant’s teachers who noticed that she was not walking properly and appeared in pain. She revealed to them that she had been defiled and decided to contact the grandfather who then took up the matter.
The complainant was subsequently examined and treated at Tigoni District Hospital by Dr. Kavese but at the time of the trial she was not in government service. Dr. Kamanga Caroline of the same hospital gave evidence and produced the P3 form filled by Dr. Kavese. She had worked with Dr. Kavese for 9 months and was conversant with her handwriting.
The appellant was arrested with assistance of the Assistant Chief and escorted to Tigoni Police Station where he was received by P.C. Alfred Langat of Lari Patrol Division. In his defence the appellant told the court that she was called by a person he did not know and informed that his mother in law was unwell and that he and his wife should go and see her. On going there they found the mother in law unwell but the father in law was away.
When the father in law arrived the appellant was interrogated about the offence which shocked him. He denied the offence but was tied with a rope and taken to the Police Station where he was later charged.
The learned trial magistrate believed the evidence of the prosecution witnesses and convicted the appellant. In his appeal the appellant has faulted the learned trial magistrate for convicting him yet the case was not proved beyond reasonable doubt in that no DNA test was conducted to disclose the culprit.
It is also his position that medical examination upon him and P.W. 1 did not prove who committed the offence. Further, that he was convicted on suspicion which cannot sustain the conviction. Whereas medical evidence disclosed that P.W. 1 had an infection no investigation was done on him to ascertain whether he was linked to the crime. He also complained that he was not accorded a fair trial and that he was not positively identified by the complainant. Finally, that his defence was not considered.
As the first appellate court, it is my duty to evaluate the entire evidence adduced before the lower court and arrive at independent conclusions. This I have done. The evidence of P.W. 1 the complainant was corroborated by that of P.W. 3 and P.W. 4 who were her teachers and who noticed that she was walking with some difficulty.On questioning the complainant,the truth came out.
The doctor who examined the complainant was not available to give evidence but her colleague produced the P3 form without any objection from the appellant. The examination concluded that the complainant had been sexually assaulted. That evidence reinforced that of the complainant P.W. 1 and that of her teachers P.W. 3 and P.W. 4.
The appellant is the father of the complainant. The complainant pointed him out before PW5 the Assistant Chief and in court as the person who defiled her.The incident took place at home and the appellant was the only male adult in the house. It takes a lot of courage for a young child to testify in such offences and implicate a person of such proximity as the father. I can only conclude that she was telling the truth.
His defence was considered by the learned trial magistrate and found to be a mere denial. The offence was proved beyond any reasonable doubt and the conviction was well founded.
Under Section 20 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act where the female person is under the age of 18 years the accused person shall be liable to imprisonment for life. The complainant is said to have been 12 years old. The penalty provided is not a minimum sentence, but considering the relationship of the appellant as the father of the complainant, the learned trial magistrate was justified to impose life imprisonment so that the two are separated for life. I therefore have no reason to interfere with that sentence. This appeal is dismissed.
SIGNED DATEDandDELIVEREDin court this 29st day of June 2014.
A.MBOGHOLI MSAGHA
JUDGE