[2016] KEHC 2863 (KLR)
The court found that the prosecution, despite being granted multiple adjournments over a two-year period, failed to call any witnesses or present any evidence against the accused. No valid reasons were provided for this failure. As a result, the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case as required by law....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 2863 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Defendant: John Wafula Omwoyo
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kakamega
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 36 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Ruling on No Case to Answer
- Outcome
- acquittal
- Judges
- EC Mwita
- Legal Topics
- Murder, Criminal Procedure, Adjournment of Hearing, Acquittal, Failure to Call Witnesses
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Republic
Applicant
John Wafula Omwoyo
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Ruling on No Case to Answer
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the prosecution established a prima facie case against the accused to require him to be put on his defence.
- 2 Whether repeated failure by the prosecution to call witnesses justifies an acquittal under section 306(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the prosecution, despite being granted multiple adjournments over a two-year period, failed to call any witnesses or present any evidence against the accused. No valid reasons were provided for this failure. As a result, the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case as required by law. Under section 306(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the accused is entitled to an acquittal where the prosecution fails to establish a case to answer. The court therefore acquitted the accused and ordered his immediate release unless otherwise lawfully held.
Court Disposition
acquittal
Orders
- The accused, John Wafula Omwoyo, is acquitted under section 306(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
- The accused shall be set at liberty forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KAKAMEGA
CRIMINAL CASE NO.36 OF 2014
REPUBLIC..........................................................................PROSECUTOR
VERSUS
JOHN WAFULA OMWOYO.................................................... ACCUSED
RULING
1. John Wafula Omwoyo alias Mindoti, the accused, was arraigned before court for the offence of murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal code. Particulars of the information were that on the 27th day of June 2014 at Manda Village in Kakamega North District, Kakamega County unlawfully murdered Rose Masitsa Omwoyo.
2. The accused took plea on 15th July, 2014 when he pleaded not guilty to the information. The case was then fixed for mention on 1st October, 2014 for purposes of fixing a hearing date. On that day, the case was again fixed for mention on 24th November, 2014 before the Deputy Registrar for fixing a hearing date. The case was again fixed for mention on 26th January 2015 and when it came before Mrima J, on that day, the Judge directed that it be mentioned again before the Deputy registrar on 11th July, 2015 for fixing a hearing date. Finally the case was fixed for hearing on 15th December, 2015.
3. When the case came up for hearing on the appointed date, the prosecution did not have witnesses and counsel for the accused was also absent. Mr Oroni, learned State Prosecutor, applied for an adjournment to enable him call witnesses. The case was adjourned with an order that a hearing date be taken before the Deputy Registrar on 8th January, 2016. It was once again fixed for mention on 12th January 2016, and on that day, it was fixed for hearing on 15th March, 2016.
4. When the case came up again for hearing on 15th March, 2016, Mr Oroni was not ready to proceed for the same reason that he did not have witnesses and sought an adjournment on that account. The court further noted the fact that Miss Rauto had not attended court on various occasions and therefore released counsel for the case and appointed Mr Osangoto represent the accused. The court then set the case for hearing on 14th April, 2016 and directed the prosecution to ensure that witnesses attend court on the hearing date without fail.
5. As it turned out, on that day 14th April, 2016, Mr Oroni did not have his file and obviously witnesses were absent, and again as expected, he applied for an adjournment. The court granted an adjournment to the prosecution and fixed the case for hearing on 26th July, 2016 with a warning that witnesses should be in court when the matter comes up next for hearing.
6. The case came up for hearing on 26th July, 2016 and once again the prosecution did not have witnesses and sought an adjournment. Mr Osango opposed the application for adjournment and pointed out the numerous adjournments granted to the prosecution and the fact that no single witness has been presented since the accused took plea in July, 2014.
7. The application for adjournment was declined and the prosecution ordered to proceed. Mr Oroni could not obviously proceed in the absence of witnesses and closed his case, hence this ruling.
8. The accused was arraigned before court on 15th July, 2014. By 26th July, 2016 he had spent two years in remand yet his trial was yet to begin. Despite the prosecution having been accorded an opportunity to present witnesses through numerous adjournments, it did not do so. No proper reasons were given why it could not present witnesses, or when it was sure of presenting witnesses.
9. Since the prosecution failed to procure witnesses to prove its case as required by law, I find that the prosecution failed to establish a case against the accused and for that reason, the accused has no case to answer under section 306(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Consequently I acquit the accused and order that he be set at liberty forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
Dated and delivered at Kakamega this 8th day of September, 2016.
E.C. MWITA
JUDGE