[2017] KEHC 212 (KLR)
The court found that the prosecution failed to prove a crucial element of the offence of murder—namely, the cause of death of the deceased—because no medical evidence or post-mortem report was produced. The court held that, in line with established legal principles and precedent, it is not sufficient to infer cause...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2017] KEHC 212 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Defendant: David Kimonda Chesang’
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nakuru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 47 of 2011
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Ruling on Whether a Prima Facie Case Has Been Established at Close of Prosecution Case
- Outcome
- acquittal
- Judges
- JV Juma
- Legal Topics
- Murder, Prima Facie Case, Cause of Death, Evidentiary Requirements
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Republic
Applicant
David Kimonda Chesang’
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Ruling on Whether a Prima Facie Case Has Been Established at Close of Prosecution Case
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the prosecution established a prima facie case against the accused for the charge of murder.
- 2 Whether the cause of death of the deceased was proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the prosecution failed to prove a crucial element of the offence of murder—namely, the cause of death of the deceased—because no medical evidence or post-mortem report was produced. The court held that, in line with established legal principles and precedent, it is not sufficient to infer cause of death from circumstantial evidence alone in the absence of medical proof, except in very exceptional cases. As such, the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case against the accused, and the accused was acquitted of the charge of murder.
Court Disposition
acquittal
Orders
- The accused is acquitted of the charge of murder.
- The accused is to be set at liberty forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAKURU
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 47 OF 2011
REPUBLIC................................................STATE
VERSUS
DAVID KIMONDA CHESANG’.....ACCUSED
RULING
The accused DAVID KIMONDA CHESANG’ faces a charge of MURDER CONTRARY TO SECTION 203 as read with SECTION 204 OF THE PENAL CODE. The particulars of the charge were given as follows:-
“On the 3rd day of June, 2011 at Rumuruti Township in Laikipia West District within Rift Valley Province murdered JULIUS MWANGI”
The accused pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ to the charge and his trial commenced before Hon. Lady Justice Hellen Omondi on 9/10/13.
The prosecution called a total of four (4) witnesses in support of their case.
The prosecution case as narrated by PW2 FRANCIS KIPRONO ARAP CHEPKWONYwho is the proprietor of Furaha Bar and Lodgings in Rumuruti is as follows.
On 2/6/2011 he was at his bar working. At about midnight he heard a loud bang and the front door was pushed open. He heard the sound of footsteps running and a man calling out for help. PW2 rushed to check what the problem was. He found the deceased JAMES MWANGI trying to shield himself from the accused. The accused had a knife and PW2 saw the accused take aim and stab the deceased in the chest. The deceased fell to the ground. The accused raised his hand in order to stab the deceased again. PW2 stepped forward and held the accused’s hand.
Due to the commotion occupants in the other rooms came out. These included PW1 JAMES NDIANGUI MUIGA and PW3 STEPHEN KIMOMO KIPRONO both who testify that they saw the accused holding a blood stained knife poised over the deceased who was lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Police were called to the scene. The accused was then arrested and charged.
The prosecution having closed their case this court must now make a determination as to whether the prosecution have established a prima facie case.
In any murder trial aside from the fact of death the prosecution is required to prove the cause of death of the deceased. Most usually this is by way of the evidence of the doctor who conducted the autopsy on the body of the deceased and by way of production of a post-mortem report. In this case no doctor came to testify and no post-mortem report was produced. The court is being invited to presume that the deceased met his death as a result of having been stabbed.
In the case of CHENGO NICKSON KALAMA Vs REPUBLIC [2015]eKLR the Court of Appeal held that
“......... save in very exceptional cases...... it is absolutely necessary that death and the cause thereof be proved beyond reasonable doubt and that can only be achieved by production of medical evidence and in particular, a post mortem examination report of the deceased.....”
That is precisely the situation that pertains in this case. No proof has been offered to establish what caused the death of the deceased. The evidence that the deceased was stabbed cannot lead to the assumption that he died from stab wounds. The link between the stabbing and the mortality of the deceased must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. That has not been done in this case.
I find that having failed to prove a crucial ingredient of the charge of murder notwithstanding the strength of other available evidence no prima facie case has been shown. I enter a verdict of ‘Not Guilty’and I acquit the accused of this charge of murder. The accused is to be set at liberty forthwith unless he is otherwise lawfully held.
Dated and Delivered in Nakuru this 3rd day of February, 2017
Mr. Kemboi holding brief for Mr. Kipkemei for Accused
Maureen A. Odero
Judge