[2017] KEHC 8784 (KLR)

[2017] KEHC 8784 (KLR)

The court found that the prosecution of the petitioners was commenced without any factual foundation, as the police and DPP had in their possession clear statements and admissions from co-accused persons exonerating the petitioners, yet proceeded to charge them with a serious offence carrying the death penalty. The...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2017] KEHC 8784 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: John Atelu Omilia; Applicant: Collins Ouma Musikoyo; Respondent: Attorney General; Respondent: Inspector General; Respondent: Director of Criminal Investigations; Respondent: PC Festo Wamwayi; Respondent: AP CPL Benjamin Chedotum
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Petition 447 of 2015
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Judgment
Outcome
Petition allowed. Judgment entered for the petitioners.
Judges
JM Mativo
Legal Topics
Right to Fair Trial, Malicious Prosecution, Prosecutorial Discretion, Disclosure of Evidence, Constitutional Torts, Compensation for Rights Violation
Source Language
en
Constitutional Law Criminal Law Tort Law Right to Fair Trial Malicious Prosecution Prosecutorial Discretion Disclosure of Evidence Constitutional Torts +1 more

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Parties

John Atelu Omilia

Applicant

Collins Ouma Musikoyo

Applicant

Attorney General

Respondent

Inspector General

Respondent

Director of Criminal Investigations

Respondent

PC Festo Wamwayi

Respondent

AP CPL Benjamin Chedotum

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the prosecution of the petitioners was commenced without factual foundation and constituted an abuse of prosecutorial powers.
  2. 2 Whether the failure to disclose crucial evidence to the petitioners and the court violated their constitutional rights to a fair trial.
  3. 3 Whether the petitioners are entitled to compensation for violation of their constitutional rights.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the prosecution of the petitioners was commenced without any factual foundation, as the police and DPP had in their possession clear statements and admissions from co-accused persons exonerating the petitioners, yet proceeded to charge them with a serious offence carrying the death penalty. The failure to disclose these exculpatory statements to the petitioners and the court constituted a violation of their constitutional right to a fair trial under Article 50. The court held that the DPP abused prosecutorial powers by instituting a malicious prosecution without sufficient evidence, and that the actions of the police and DPP amounted to an abuse of process and a...

Court Disposition

Petition allowed. Judgment entered for the petitioners.

Orders

  • A declaration is issued that the prosecution of the petitioners in criminal case number 120 of 2013 was instituted without factual foundation, was malicious, and an abuse of police and prosecutorial powers.
  • A declaration is issued that the police and DPP were under a legal duty to disclose all prosecution evidence to the petitioners at the earliest opportunity, and failure to do so violated their rights.