[2018] KEHC 3649 (KLR)
The court found that the evidence from multiple eyewitnesses, including the complainant and other bystanders, established beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant attacked and caused grievous harm to the complainant, a minor, by severing his arm with a panga. The appellant's claim of being attacked was not...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 3649 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Hezron Ndege Omollo; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisii
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 22 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- Conviction affirmed; sentence reduced.
- Judges
- DAS Majanja
- Legal Topics
- Grievous Harm, Sentencing, Appeals, Penal Code Section 234
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Hezron Ndege Omollo
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the conviction of the appellant for causing grievous harm was supported by the evidence.
- 2 Whether the sentence of fifty years imprisonment was excessive and warranted reduction.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the evidence from multiple eyewitnesses, including the complainant and other bystanders, established beyond reasonable doubt that the appellant attacked and caused grievous harm to the complainant, a minor, by severing his arm with a panga. The appellant's claim of being attacked was not supported by the evidence. The conviction was therefore affirmed. However, the court held that the sentence of fifty years imprisonment was excessive in light of sentencing trends for similar or more serious offences such as robbery with violence. The court exercised its discretion to reduce the sentence to twenty years imprisonment, finding this to be a more proportionate punishment...
Court Disposition
Conviction affirmed; sentence reduced.
Orders
- The conviction for causing grievous harm is affirmed.
- The sentence of fifty years imprisonment is quashed and substituted with twenty years imprisonment.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KISII
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 22 OF 2017
HEZRON NDEGE OMOLLO................APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC............................................RESPONDENT
(Appeal from the original conviction and sentence of Hon. J.P Nandi – SRM dated 15th March 2016 at the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Oyugis in Criminal Case No. 87 of 2015)
JUDGMENT
1. The appellant, HEZRON NDEGE OMOLLO, was charged and convicted of the offence of causing grievous harm contrary to section 234 of the Penal Code (Chapter 63 of the Laws of Kenya). The particulars of the offence were that on 10th February 2014 at Kodera Location in Rachuonyo South District of Homa Bay County he unlawfully did grievous harm to B O. He was sentenced to fifty (50) years imprisonment.
2. At the hearing of the appeal the appellant informed the court that he did not deny cutting the complainant but that he was attacked. He prayed for leniency as the sentence was harsh.
3. I have considered the evidence on record and it is not true that the appellant was attacked as he states. B O O (PW 1) was a child in class four and he was attacked by the appellant as he was cutting grass in their compound. Nancy Akinyi Otieno (PW 2) confirmed that she is the one who told PW 1 to go and slash grass after he came from school on the material day. She saw the appellant chasing PW 1 hitting him with a panga. When the appellant saw her, he chased her away.
4. Titus Ochieng’ Ojwang’ (PW 3) who was nearby heard PW 1 screaming and calling for help and when he went outside his house, he saw the appellant chasing PW 1. He also saw the appellant cut PW 1 on the hand as he tried to shield himself. Likewise Eunice Okoth (PW 4) also testified that when she heard noise outside, she saw the appellant chasing PW 1.
5. After PW 1 was cut, he was rushed to Rachuonyo District Hospital for treatment. The matter was also reported at Oyugis Police Station. The clinical officer, PW 6 produced the P3 medical report. She examined PW 1 and noted that his left arm had been cut off at the upper part with a sharp object. She classified the injury as maim.
6. In his unsworn statement the appellant merely denied the offence.
7. The testimony of all the witnesses I have outlined show that it is the appellant who attacked PW 1 in broad daylight. He was thus properly convicted of causing grievous harm as PW 1’s arm was completely cut off. I therefore affirm the conviction.
8. As regards sentence, I am aware that maximum sentence for grievous harm is life imprisonment. I find the sentence fifty (50) years imprisonment on the higher side considering the sentencing trends in other cases for example robbery with violence. I therefore quash the sentence of fifty (50) years imprisonment and substitute it with twenty (20) years imprisonment.
Dated and delivered at Kisii this 27thday of September, 2018.
D.S MAJANJA
JUDGE
Mr. Otieno, Senior Prosecution Counsel, instructed by Office of Director of Prosecutions.
Appellant in person.