[2015] KEHC 11 (KLR)
The court accepted the plea bargain to the lesser offence of manslaughter, considering the facts that the accused killed their brother in retaliation for their mother's death, the deceased was intoxicated and unable to defend himself, and the cause of death was established as trauma to the head. The court relied...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2015] KEHC 11 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Defendant: Sosthenes Matwere Nyangau; Defendant: Joseph Nyanchongi Nyangau
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nyamira
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 23 of 2015
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Sentencing
- Outcome
- Both accused persons sentenced to two years non-custodial probation under supervision.
- Judges
- CB Nagillah
- Legal Topics
- Manslaughter, Plea Bargaining, Sentencing, Probation, Remand Period, Penal Code
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Republic
Applicant
Sosthenes Matwere Nyangau
Defendant
Joseph Nyanchongi Nyangau
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Sentencing
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the accused persons should be convicted of manslaughter following a plea bargain agreement.
- 2 What is the appropriate sentence for the accused persons given the circumstances and probation report.
Ratio Decidendi
The court accepted the plea bargain to the lesser offence of manslaughter, considering the facts that the accused killed their brother in retaliation for their mother's death, the deceased was intoxicated and unable to defend himself, and the cause of death was established as trauma to the head. The court relied heavily on the probation report, which indicated that both the family and the community were supportive of a non-custodial sentence and that the accused had no prior criminal records. The court also took into account that the accused had already spent nearly four years in remand. In light of these factors, the court found that a non-custodial sentence of two years' probation under...
Court Disposition
Both accused persons sentenced to two years non-custodial probation under supervision.
Orders
- Each accused is sentenced to two years non-custodial sentence under the supervision of the Probation Officer, Mr. Omanga Elijah.
- The accused are to be guided and counseled as part of their probation.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
30 paragraphs
REPUBLIC O KENYA.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA A NYAMIRA
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 23 OF 2015
REPUBLIC…………………………………………....…...PROSECUTOR
VERSUS
SOSTHENES MATWERE NYANGAU…………………….1ST ACCUSED
JOSEPH NYANCHONGI NYANGAU ……………………..2ND ACCUSED
SENTENCING
The two accused persons Sosthenes Matwere Nyangau, aged 30 years and Joseph Nyanchongi Nyangau,aged 23 yearshave pleaded to less offence of manslaughter, contrary to Section 202 as read with Section 205 of the Penal Code through the legal process of plea bargaining.
The facts of the case is that on the 8th day of November, 2011 at 4. 00 p.m., the accused persons descended on their brother, John kebaso Nyangau and killed him on the allegation that the deceased had earlier killed their mother and disappeared for three(3) years.The deceased was drunk and he could not defend himself. The injuries he sustained resulted to his death. A post mortem was conducted and the doctor formed an opinion that the cause of death was cardio pulmonary arrest due to extra dural haemorrhage/fracture of the skull as a direct cause of trauma to the head.
They were charged for murder contrary to Section 203as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. Through the process of plea bargain, the two accused brothers pleaded to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
The court then called for the pre-sentencing probation report. The same was filed today the 12th October, 2015. It says the following:
in respect of Sosthenes Matwere Nyangau.
The first accused is a married person. The deceased was his brother. He hails from low income earners family. The family have no objection to the accused being considered for non-custodial sentence. They are willing to help him settle and reintegret him.
His family blame him because of the temperaments love for his late mother whose death sparked the differences between him and the deceased.
The community is positive and ready to receive. They balme him for his uncontrolled anger. They however, consider him hard working person who was never involved in criminal actions. They expressed no objection for being accorded leniency.
In respect ofJoseph Nyanchongi Nyangau
He is unmarried. He is aged 23 years. He is a brother to the co-accused and to the deceased. The victim family have no objection to the two accused being considered for non-custodial sentence. They are willing to assist him resettle and integret through the community so that they can assist of their ailing father.
His direct family are positive and are willing to assist him resettle and restart his life. The community as whole are also positive.
The local administration Area Assistant Chief,George Magatasays he has no objection.
The probation that the accused persons are suitable for non-custodial sentence of probation so as to intervene with guidance and counseling and empowerment with information on amicable dispute resolution.
The two accused persons have been in remand since November 2011 – almost four (4) years to-date.
This court will sentence them to two years non-custodial sentence, each under the supervision of the Probation Officer the area Mr. Omanga Elijah.
Dated and Delivered at Nyamira this 9th day of November 2015
C.B NAGILLAH
JUDGE
In the presence of:
Malesi for the state
Okenye for the accused persons
Mr. Omayio Court Clerk