[2019] KEHC 9839 (KLR)
The court found that, although the evidence established that the deceased died a violent death, there was no evidence whatsoever connecting the accused to the killing. Only two prosecution witnesses testified: a medical officer who produced the postmortem report and the deceased's son who testified about the death...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2019] KEHC 9839 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Defendant: Muimi Muneeni
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Garissa
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 13 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Ruling on Case to Answer After Close of Prosecution Case
- Outcome
- acquittal
- Judges
- GMA Dulu
- Legal Topics
- Murder, Prima Facie Case, Acquittal, Burden of Proof
- 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
Muimi Muneeni
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Ruling on Case to Answer After Close of Prosecution Case
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 there was any evidence connecting the accused to the death of the deceased.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that, although the evidence established that the deceased died a violent death, there was no evidence whatsoever connecting the accused to the killing. Only two prosecution witnesses testified: a medical officer who produced the postmortem report and the deceased's son who testified about the death and burial. No evidence was adduced linking the accused to the crime. The prosecution's inability to call further witnesses was due to the investigating officer's failure to cooperate, not the fault of the prosecuting counsel. In the absence of any evidence connecting the accused to the offence, the court held that a prima facie case had not been established and acquitted the...
Court Disposition
acquittal
Orders
- The accused is found not guilty of murder under section 306(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 75).
- The accused is acquitted and set at liberty forthwith.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
20 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT GARISSA
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 13 OF 2015
REPUBLIC............................................................PROSECUTOR
VERSUS
MUIMI MUNEENI.......................................................ACCUSED
RULING
1. On 11th December 2018 Mr. Okemwa the Principal Prosecution Counsel closed the prosecution case and asked the court to make a ruling on a case to answer. He stated that he was taking that action because the investigating officer Mr. Nguyo who was OCS Kyuso Police Station at the time had severally been evasive in attending court and availing witnesses.
2. Mr. Mwalimu learned counsel for the defence then asked the court to review the evidence and make its ruling on case to answer.
3. A prima facie is established when at the close of the prosecution case the evidence on record is such that, if the accused does not offer any defence statement, a reasonable court considering the evidence on record might convict the accused person.
4. In the present case only two witnesses testified for the prosecution. This was PW1 Dr. Kiema Hanson Mwango a Medical Officer at Mwingi Sub-District Hospital who testified and produced a postmortem report prepared by Dr. Abdalla who was not able to attend court on that day, though he was still stationed at Mwingi Hospital. Cause of death of the deceased Hussein Sheikh was recorded as cardio pulmonary arrest due to severe head injury, spinal injury, and penetrating chest injury.
5. PW2 was Hussein Osman Kalmoi of Bisan Hargeisa a son of the deceased who was informed by his brother on 1/6/2015 about the death of his father which occurred at Kasiluni near Ukasi trading centre. Next day he went to Mwingi hospital and collected the body for burial at Bisan Hargeisa.
6. The above is the evidence of the prosecution on record. From the evidence on record, the deceased died a violent death. However, there is no evidence that connects the accused even remotely to the killing of the deceased. In those circumstances, it is clear that the prosecution has not tendered evidence in court that even remotely attempts to connect the accused person to the offence.
7. I thus find that the prosecution has not established a prima facie case against the accused and I have no choice but to find him not guilty.
8. I must put it on record that the Prosecuting Counsel asked for several adjournments from the court since 2015 and was frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the police and thus decided to close the case after only two witnesses testified. The Prosecution Counsel is thus not to blame, but the police.
9. The prosecution not having established a prima facie case against the accused, I hereby find him not guilty of murder under section 306 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 75) and acquit the accused person.
Dated and delivered at Garissa this 21st day of February, 2019.
......................
George Dulu
JUDGE