[2021] KEHC 6854 (KLR)
The court found that the prosecution's case rested solely on the accused's prior threats against the deceased, with no direct or circumstantial evidence linking the accused to the act of murder. The postmortem confirmed the cause of death as severe head injury, but none of the witnesses testified to seeing the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 6854 (KLR)
- Parties
- Defendant: Jadiel Kaberia; Appellant: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Meru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 62 of 2019
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Ruling on No Case to Answer
- Outcome
- acquittal
- Judges
- TW Cherere
- Legal Topics
- Murder, Standard of Proof, Prima Facie Case, Criminal Liability
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Jadiel Kaberia
Defendant
Republic
Appellant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Ruling on No Case to Answer
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the prosecution established a prima facie case to require the accused to be put on his defence for the offence of murder.
- 2 Whether threats made by the accused are sufficient to link him to the unlawful act causing death.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the prosecution's case rested solely on the accused's prior threats against the deceased, with no direct or circumstantial evidence linking the accused to the act of murder. The postmortem confirmed the cause of death as severe head injury, but none of the witnesses testified to seeing the accused commit the act or provided evidence placing him at the scene at the material time. The court held that suspicion, even if strong, is insufficient to establish guilt or to require the accused to be put on his defence. In the absence of evidence pointing directly to the accused as the perpetrator, the court concluded that a prima facie case had not been established and that...
Court Disposition
acquittal
Orders
- The accused, Jadiel Kaberia, is found not guilty of murder and is hereby acquitted under Section 306(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
31 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT MERU
(CORAM: CHERERE-J_
CRIMINAL CASE (MURDER) NO. 62 OF 2019
BETWEEN
REPUBLIC.................................................................................................PROSECUTOR
AND
JADIEL KABERIA............................................................................................ACCUSED
RULING
1) JADIEL KABERIA (Accused) is charged with the offence of Murder Contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. The particulars of the charge are that
On diverse dates between 27th and 28th June, 2019 at an unknown time at Kiegoi Location, in Igembe South Sub-County within Meru County, unlawfully murdered Kianga M’Atheru
2) Accused is son of Kianga M’Atheru (deceased) and PW1 Eunice Nkatha.
3) The prosecution case was that prior to the death of the deceased, Accused and his father had been having disagreements to a point where Accused had severally made threats to kill his father.
4) That Accused had made threats to kill his father was the thread that ran through the evidence by his mother PW1 Eunice Nkatha, neigbour PW2 Geofrey Kunja, a police officer PW3 PC Naomi Syokau and brother in law PW5 Joel Kalemi.
5) It therefore follows that when Accused father’s body was discovered on 28th June, 2019, Accused was on the basis of threats allegedly made to the deceased arrested and charged.
6) There is no doubt that the deceased died. The postmortem form, PEXH. 1,shows that deceased died of cardiopulmonary arrest due to severe heavy head injury with internal haemorrhage.
7) None of the prosecution witnesses stated that accused person committed the unlawful act that caused the death of the deceased.
8) The issue for determination is whether on the basis of threats allegedly made by the Accused, the Prosecution has established a primafacie case upon which Accused can safely be called upon to defend himself.
9) The totality of the prosecution wholly relied on the intent that Accused had made and no other investigation was carried out to link Accused to the death of his father.
10) At best, the evidence led by the prosecution only amounts to suspicion. In the case of Sawe vs. Republic [2003] KLR 354the Court of Appeal held:
Suspicion, however strong, cannot provide the basis of inferring guilt which must be proved by evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
11) In the absence of any other evidence pointing an accusing finger at the Accused, I am not persuaded that there is sufficient evidence to warrant this Court to put the Accused on his defence because the evidence on record is such that it cannot sustain a conviction even in the event that Accused is placed on his defence and he elects to exercise his Constitutional right to remain silent under Article 50 (2) (1) of the Constitution.
12) Consequently, under the Provisions of Section 306 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, Accused is hereby found NOT GUILTY.
DATED AT MERU THIS 20TH DAY OF MAY 2021.
T. W. CHERERE
JUDGE
Court Assistant - Kinoti
Accused - Present
For the Accused - Mr. Muriira Advocate
For the State - Ms. Mbithe