[2019] KEHC 3014 (KLR)
The court found that the accused, a first offender and police officer with an unblemished record, acted in the line of duty during a lawful operation to arrest a violent suspect. The deceased attacked the accused, resulting in a struggle during which the accused's firearm discharged accidentally, causing the fatal...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 3014 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Defendant: George Waweru
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Naivasha
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 51 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Sentencing Judgment
- Outcome
- accused sentenced to two years probation
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing Principles, Mitigation, Probation Orders, Use of Force by Police
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Republic
Applicant
George Waweru
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Sentencing Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the accused should receive a custodial or non-custodial sentence given the circumstances of the offence.
- 2 What weight should be given to the accused's mitigation, background, and conduct as a police officer.
- 3 Whether the accused's actions constituted excessive use of force or were justified in the line of duty.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the accused, a first offender and police officer with an unblemished record, acted in the line of duty during a lawful operation to arrest a violent suspect. The deceased attacked the accused, resulting in a struggle during which the accused's firearm discharged accidentally, causing the fatal injury. The court considered the positive probation report, the accused's remorse, community support, and the significant consequences already suffered, including loss of employment. The court determined that a custodial sentence was not warranted in the circumstances and that rehabilitation within the community was appropriate. Accordingly, the accused was sentenced to two...
Court Disposition
accused sentenced to two years probation
Orders
- The accused is sentenced to two years probation from the date of judgment.
- The accused shall maintain peace and be of good conduct during the probation period.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
32 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIVASHA
(CORAM: R. MWONGO, J.)
COURT CRIMINAL CASE NO. 51 OF 2015
REPUBLIC......................................................................PROSECUTION
VERSUS
GEORGE WAWERU.................................................................ACCUSED
SENTENCING JUDGMENT
1. Following conviction of the Accused on 3rd July, 2019 after a full hearing, this court is now required to mete sentence.
2. The sentencing hearing was held on 29th July, 2019 when defence counsel gave mitigation having seen a copy of the Probation Officer’s Pre-sentence report. He urged the court to consider: that the accused is a first offender aged 33 years; that he was an Administration Police Officer who had worked as such for eleven years; that he was on active when the incident occurred, and that he had a clean record during his tenure of employment.
3. The Probation Officer’s report dated 22nd July, 2019 was availed. It describes the accused’s background. He is the last born of three siblings, the other two having only had primary level education. He is married and has two children, a boy aged 8 years and in Standard 2 and a girl aged 4 years in Pre-primary 1. They live in a rental house. He has been working for his ailing parents and paying their medical expenses.
4. The accused is of good health and has no history of drug abuse. According to the Probation Officer, the accused’s attitude is positive; he says that he did not intend to carry out the act; that he had not pre-meditated the offence; that he acted at the spur of the moment whilst an active duty in a situation where the deceased was attacking him to escape arrest, and in fact used his gun as a shield to prevent being hit by the deceased, or the gun being taken away from him.
5. The accused was in the line of duty as an officer of the uniformed forces when the incident occurred. That as a result of incident, the accused has already greatly suffered; the loss of his job; that he has not been in full employment since 16th July 2015 when the offence was committed; that this loss of work is a severe punishment itself; that his family has been affected.
6. The Probation Officer’s report notes that the offender’s community namely, offender’s and victim’s home areas, local administration, local policing community and villagers all gave positive report on the offender. They said that no report of misconduct by him had ever been received. They believe he was trying to help arrest a suspect who was violent and a notorious drug dealer. They knew accused as a diligent worker.
7. The victim’s family, namely the wife and son were interviewed by the Probation Officer. The wife had little to say and suggested the decision on sentencing be left to the court. She said the death of her husband left her the burden of raising her children alone.
8. In the Probation Officer’s report, he noted that the accused had not exhibited any hostility during the inquiry period; that he had dutifully complied with the terms if bond given by the court; that he had exhibited remorse and sought the court’s leniency. He also said he was ready to comply with any court orders if given a non-custodial sentence.
9. The Probation Officer recommended that the accused is fit for a non-custodial sentence, and that he should be reintegrated and rehabilitated within the community.
10. I have carefully considered the circumstances under which the offence was committed. The accused was on active duty and had gone with other officers to investigate a case of bhang storage and transportation. They found the deceased in his house and ordered him to surrender and get out. It was night. Instead, the deceased got angry and started shouting and violently banging the walls in his house. He loudly threatened that he would take someone down with him. He then suddelny emerged from the back door of his house in a rush, and that is where the accused was positioned as part of the operation to arrest the deceased.
11. It was at that point that the deceased attacked the accused and a struggle ensued. The Accused’s gun then went off. The bullet ricocheted from the concrete wall and into the deceased’s leg. He died later from the bullet wound.
12. Taking into account all the foregoing, I think that the proper sentence for the accused is a non-custodial sentence.
(a) I therefore sentence him to two (2) years probation with effect from the date hereof.
(b) The accused will serve the sentence period, and maintain peace and be of good conduct. He shall avoid falling afoul of the law, failing which his aforesaid sentence shall be liable to revision by this court.
13. Orders accordingly.
Dated and Delivered at Naivasha this 3rd Day of October, 2019
RICHARD MWONGO
JUDGE
Delivered in the presence of:
1. Maingi for the State
2. Gichuki for Accused
3. Accused - George Waweru - present
4. Court Clerk – Quinter Ogutu