[2023] KEHC 1628 (KLR)
The court found that the sentencing judge was aware of and properly exercised the discretion to reduce or enhance the sentence under Section 354(3)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The sentence was already reduced from life imprisonment to 20 years on appeal, reflecting the correct charge under Section 8(3)...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 1628 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Moses Muli Kingoo; Respondent: Office of the Director of Public Prosecution
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Mombasa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application E150 of 2022
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Ruling on Application to Review or Vary Sentence
- Outcome
- application dismissed
- Judges
- A. Ong’injo
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Review, Sexual Offences, Judicial Discretion, Appeal Outcome
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Moses Muli Kingoo
Applicant
Office of the Director of Public Prosecution
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Ruling on Application to Review or Vary Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court had discretion to reduce or enhance the applicant's sentence under Section 354(3)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
- 2 Whether the sentence imposed was appropriate given the circumstances of the offence and the applicant's mitigation.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the sentencing judge was aware of and properly exercised the discretion to reduce or enhance the sentence under Section 354(3)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The sentence was already reduced from life imprisonment to 20 years on appeal, reflecting the correct charge under Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act. The judge considered the applicant's mitigation as a first offender, the breach of trust as a teacher, and the attempt to conceal the crime. There was no basis to further interfere with the sentence, and the application for further reduction was dismissed.
Court Disposition
application dismissed
Orders
- The application for review or reduction of sentence is dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
Kingoo v Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (Miscellaneous Criminal Application E150 of 2022) [2023] KEHC 1628 (KLR) (27 February 2023) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 1628 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Mombasa
Miscellaneous Criminal Application E150 of 2022
A. Ong’injo, J
February 27, 2023
Between
Moses Muli Kingoo
Applicant
and
Office of the Director of Public Prosecution
Respondent
(Criminal Appeal No 69 of 2018 Criminal Appeal 69 of 2018 )
Ruling
1. The Applicant was sentenced to serve life imprisonment for the offence of defilment contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act No 3 of 2006 in Kwale CMC CR Case No 911 of 2010.
2. In Criminal Appeal No 69 of 2018 the said sentence was substituted with 20 years when the Judge found the charge proved was that provided under Section 8(3) & not 8(2) of the Sexual Offences Act. The Judge found that a severe sentence was called for in this case as the appellant who was PW 1’s science teacher trained to a predator instead of a guardian to PW 1 & by so doing he breached the trust bestowed upon him by his employer. The trial judge therefore considered the appellant’s mitigation as 1st Offender and circumstances of the case which were compounded by appellants attempt to conceal his wrong doing by attempting to procure abortion of the foetus with help of his co-accused.
3. From the judgment of the Judge it cannot be construed that she was not aware of the discretion of the court to reduce or enhance sentence under Section 354(3)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Penal Code. The Application is dismissed.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT MOMBASA THIS 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2023HON. LADY JUSTICE A. ONG’INJOJUDGEIn the presence of:Ogwel – Court Asst.Mr. Ngiri for StateApplicant – Present in personHon. Lady Justice A. Ong’injo J28/02/2023