[2018] KEHC 3895 (KLR)
The appellate court found that the trial magistrate exercised her discretion properly in sentencing, having considered all relevant factors including the circumstances of the offence, the appellant's status as a first offender, and the probation officer's report. The sentence of five years' imprisonment was not...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 3895 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Musyoka Mutambuki; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kitui
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 92 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal Against Sentence
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Judges
- LN Mutende
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Principles, Grievous Harm, Appeal Against Sentence
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Musyoka Mutambuki
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal Against Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence imposed by the trial court for the offence of grievous harm was excessive or based on wrong principles.
- 2 Whether the appellate court should interfere with the sentence imposed by the trial magistrate.
Ratio Decidendi
The appellate court found that the trial magistrate exercised her discretion properly in sentencing, having considered all relevant factors including the circumstances of the offence, the appellant's status as a first offender, and the probation officer's report. The sentence of five years' imprisonment was not excessive given the seriousness of the injuries inflicted, which included a depressed skull fracture requiring surgery and resulting in psychological and mental dysfunction for the complainant. There was no evidence that the trial court acted on wrong principles or overlooked material factors. Therefore, there was no basis for the appellate court to interfere with the sentence...
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- The appeal against sentence is dismissed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
24 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KITUI
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 92 OF 2015
MUSYOKA MUTAMBUKI..............APPELLANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC......................................RESPONDENT
(Being an Appeal from the Sentence in Mwingi Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court Criminal Case No. 1186 of 2010by M. W. Murage R Mon 18/08/15)
J U D G M E N T
1. Musyoka Mutambuki,the Appellant, was charged with the offence of Grievous Harmcontrary to Section 234of the Penal Code.Particulars of the offence were that on the 19thday of December, 2010at Waita Villagein Waita Locationwithin Mwingi Central Districtof Kitui County,unlawfully did grievous harm to Mbuvi Mutambuki.
2. After denying the charge he was taken through full trial, convicted and sentenced to serve five (5) years imprisonment.
3. Aggrieved by the decision of the Court, he appealed against the conviction and sentence. At the hearing of the Appeal, however, he abandoned the Appeal against the conviction and opted to mitigate on sentence.
4. In his mitigation he stated that the issue was a disagreement regarding a family dispute. That he is a young man and a father of six, a family that solely depends on him. He prayed for reduction of the sentence to a term already served.
5. In response the State through learned Counsel Mr. Mambaopposed the Appeal. He argued that the Complainant was his brother whom he left for dead and that the sentence meted out was lenient.
6. The principle upon which an Appellate Court will interfere with the sentence meted out by the Lower Court was enunciated in the case of Ogolla s/o Owour vs. Republic (1954) EACA 270where the Court stated that:
“(i) The Court does not alter a sentence on the mere ground that if the member of the Court had been trying the Appellant, he might have passed a somewhat different sentence, and it would not ordinarily interfere with the discretion exercised by the trial Magistrate unless it is evident that the Magistrate acted upon some wrong principles or overlooked some material factors.”
7. The Appellant was charged with the offence that attracts sentence of upto life imprisonment. The learned trial Magistrate prior to sentencing him asked for a social report that was prepared by the Probation Officer. In sentencing him the Court took into consideration circumstances in which the offence was committed, the fact that the Appellant was a first offender and the findings of the Probation Officer.
8. The Complainant herein is the Appellant’s sibling. As a result of the assault the CT-Scan done revealed a parietal depressed skull. The depressed skull fracture needed elevation. He underwent surgery at Kenya National Hospital.
9. In his report the Probation officer noted the impact the assault had on the person of the Complainant. The grievous harm caused him psychological and mental dysfunction.
10. From the foregoing, I find the learned trial Magistrate having exercised her direction having taken into account relevant factors. She applied a correct principle by meting out a sentence that was not excessive.
11. In the premises I find the Appeal unmeritorious. Accordingly I dismiss it.
12. It is so ordered.
Dated, Signed and Deliveredat Kitui this 19thday of September,2018.
L. N. MUTENDE
JUDGE