[2016] KEHC 8215 (KLR)
The appellate court found that the trial court had exercised its discretion properly in sentencing the appellant. The sentence of ten years was within the statutory limits for trafficking in narcotic drugs and was, in fact, lenient considering the seriousness of the offence. The appellant was a first offender, and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 8215 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Lawrence Ngure Maina; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nyeri
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 50 “A” of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Principles, Narcotic Drugs Offences, Plea of Guilty, Appeal on Sentence
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Lawrence Ngure Maina
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed on the appellant for trafficking in narcotic drugs was excessive or warranted interference by the appellate court.
- 2 Whether the trial court considered all relevant factors in sentencing the appellant.
Ratio Decidendi
The appellate court found that the trial court had exercised its discretion properly in sentencing the appellant. The sentence of ten years was within the statutory limits for trafficking in narcotic drugs and was, in fact, lenient considering the seriousness of the offence. The appellant was a first offender, and the trial court had considered mitigation. The Probation Officer's Report did not favour a non-custodial sentence. There was no evidence that the trial court overlooked any material factor or applied the law incorrectly. Therefore, there was no justification for the appellate court to interfere with the sentence imposed by the trial court.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal on sentence is disallowed.
- The sentence imposed by the trial court is upheld.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
31 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH OF KENYA AT NYERI
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 50 “A” OF 2013
LAWRENCE NGURE MAINA…………..………………….. APPELLANT
VS
REPUBLIC …………………………………………………..RESPONDENT
(Appeal from the judgment of the Hon.W.Juma (CM) delivered on 12/03/2012 in Criminal Case No. 244 of 2012)
JUDGMENT
The appellant, Lawrence Ngure Maina was charged with the offence of trafficking in narcotic drugs contrary to Section 4(a)of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act.The particulars of the charge
FACTS
1. The appellant was subsequently charged at the Chief Magistrates Court at Nyeri and was convicted on his own plea of guilty and sentenced to serve a term of ten (10) years imprisonment.
2. Being aggrieved by both conviction and sentence, the appellant filed a Petition of Appeal on the 28th March, 2012.
3. The appeal was heard on the 11/11/2015 with Mr. Njue appearing for the State and the appellant appeared in person; both Prosecuting Counsel for the State and the appellant made oral presentations; at the hearing the appellant abandoned his appeal on conviction and proceeded only on the appeal against sentence; hereunder is a brief summary of the parties submissions
APPELLANTS SUBMISSIONS
4. The appellant prayed that the sentence be reduced to enable him go back to serve the society.
RESPONDENTS SUBMISSIONS
5. The appeal was opposed; Counsel submitted that the appellant pleaded guilty to the charge of trafficking drugs contrary to Section 4(a) of the Narcotics Control Act Cap.245 Laws of Kenya; that the law provides for a fine of KShs.1,000,000/- or a life sentence; that the sentence imposed by the trial court of ten (10) years was lenient.
6. Counsel prayed that the sentence be upheld.
ANALYSIS
7. With the consent of Prosecuting Counsel for the State this court called for a Probation Officers Report; the report was filed in court on the 12th July, 2016 and it unfortunately did not favour a non-custodial sentence for the appellant;
8. The appellant was convicted for the offence of handling stolen property and Section 322 (2)of the Penal Code provides as follows;
“Section 322 (2): Any person who handles stolen goods is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment with hard labour for a term not exceeding fourteen years.”
9. The record shows that the appellant was a first offender and was invited by the trial court to mitigation before he was sentenced; it is this courts considered view that the trial court did not overlook any material factor when sentencing the appellant to a term of six (6) years; the sentence is legal and indeed the sentence imposed is found to be lenient; this court finds no good reason that warrants interference with the term imposed by the trial court.
FINDINGS AND DETERMINATION
10. This court finds no good reason that warrants interfering with the sentence imposed.
11. The appeal on sentence is found to be lacking in merit and is hereby disallowed.
12. The sentence is hereby upheld.
Orders accordingly.
Dated, Signed and Delivered at NYERI this 27th day of October, 2016.
HON.A. MSHILA
JUDGE.