[2013] KEHC 3823 (KLR)
The court found that, in the unique circumstances of the case, the ends of justice would be served by allowing the withdrawal of the murder charge. The families of the accused and the deceased had reached a settlement under Islamic law and customs, including compensation and performance of traditional rituals, and...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2013] KEHC 3823 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Accused: Mohamed Abdow Mohamed
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 86 of 2011
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Ruling on Application to Withdraw Charge
- Outcome
- accused discharged; case withdrawn
- Legal Topics
- Murder Charge, Withdrawal of Prosecution, Traditional Dispute Resolution, Islamic Law Compensation
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Republic
Applicant
Mohamed Abdow Mohamed
Accused
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Ruling on Application to Withdraw Charge
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the court should allow withdrawal of a murder charge following a traditional and Islamic law settlement between the families.
- 2 Whether Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution permits the use of traditional dispute resolution mechanisms in criminal matters such as murder.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that, in the unique circumstances of the case, the ends of justice would be served by allowing the withdrawal of the murder charge. The families of the accused and the deceased had reached a settlement under Islamic law and customs, including compensation and performance of traditional rituals, and both parties were satisfied. The prosecution, acting under Article 157 of the Constitution, exercised its discretion to discontinue the proceedings, and the court recognized the legitimacy of traditional dispute resolution mechanisms as contemplated by Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution. The court was satisfied that no party wished to pursue the matter further, and that the...
Court Disposition
accused discharged; case withdrawn
Orders
- The accused is discharged.
- The accused is set at liberty forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
High Court at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)
Criminal Case 86 of 2011 [if gte mso 9]><![endif]
REPUBLIC…….…………………………………….PROSECUTOR
VERSUS
MOHAMED ABDOW MOHAMED… ………...........……..ACCUSED
RULING
Mohamed Abdow Mohamed is charged with the murder of Osman Ali Abdi. According to the information dated 8th November 2011 under the signature of the Deputy Prosecutions Counsel he, jointly with others not before court committed the offence on the 19th day of October 2011 at Eastleigh, 10th Street in the Starehe District within Nairobi County.
The accused was arraigned in court on 16th November 2011 and he pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial was set to commence on the 26th March 2012. On the date of hearing however, Mr. Kimanthi for the State informed the court that Mr. Bonyo, Counsel on record holding watching brief for the deceased’s family had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions requesting that the charge be withdrawn on account of a settlement reached between the families of the accused and the deceased respectively. The letter in question read in part:-
“…….The two families have sat and some form of compensation has taken place wherein camels, goats and other traditional ornaments were paid to the aggrieved family. Actually one of the rituals that have been performed is said to have paid for blood of the deceased to his family as provided for under the Islamic Law and customs. These two families have performed the said rituals, the family of the deceased is satisfied that the offence committed has been fully compensated to them under the Islamic Laws and Customs applicable in such matters and in the foregoing circumstances, they do not wish to pursue the matter any further be it in court or any other forum…….”
Mr. Kimanthi then proceeded on the instructions of the Director of Public Prosecutions to make an oral application in court to have the matter marked as settled. He cited Article 159 (1) of the Constitution which allows the Courts and Tribunals to be guided by alternative dispute resolution including reconciliation, mediation, arbitration and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms. He urged the court to consider the case as ‘sui generis’ as the parties had submitted themselves to traditional and Islamic laws which provide an avenue for reconciliation. He stressed that each of the parties was satisfied and felt adequately compensated.
Finally, Counsel submitted that since the time of arrest of the accused, the prosecution had had great difficulty in securing the attendance of witnesses as the said witnesses were not only no longer interested in the prosecution but were actually eager to see the matter marked settled. He drew the court’s attention to the affidavit of Abdow Alio Ibrahim, the deceased’s father which in part reads;-
“…….its worth noting that it goes against our tradition to pursue the matter any further and/or testify against the accused person once we have received full compensation in the matter of which we already have….. its our instruction that the matter and/or court case be withdrawn as our family wishes to put a stop to the matter.”
I have considered the application. Under Article 157 of the Constitution the Director of Public Prosecution is mandated to exercise state powers of prosecution and in that exercise may discontinue at any stage criminal proceedings against any person. In the unique circumstances of the present application, I am satisfied that the ends of justice will be met by allowing rather than disallowing the application. Consequently, I discharge the accused.
He is set at liberty forthwith unless otherwise lawfully held.
Ruling delivered, dated and signed at Nairobi this 2ndday of May, 2013
R. LAGAT - KORIR
JUDGE
In the presence of:
……………………..: Court clerk
……………..……….:Accused
……………………..: For the accused
…………………….:For the State
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