[2023] KEHC 17875 (KLR)
The court determined that, despite the accused's mitigating circumstances—being a sole breadwinner and having spent nearly four years in custody—the gravity of the offence and the sentiments of the deceased's family, who opposed a non-custodial sentence, warranted a custodial sentence. The court found that a...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2023] KEHC 17875 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Republic; Defendant: Aletia Lochuro Tioko
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Lodwar
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Case 4 of 2020
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Case / Sentence
- Outcome
- The accused was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for manslaughter.
- Judges
- JK Sergon
- Legal Topics
- Manslaughter, Sentencing Principles, Mitigation, Custodial Sentence
- 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
Aletia Lochuro Tioko
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Case / Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the accused should receive a custodial or non-custodial sentence for manslaughter.
- 2 What mitigating and aggravating factors should influence the length and nature of the sentence.
Ratio Decidendi
The court determined that, despite the accused's mitigating circumstances—being a sole breadwinner and having spent nearly four years in custody—the gravity of the offence and the sentiments of the deceased's family, who opposed a non-custodial sentence, warranted a custodial sentence. The court found that a custodial sentence was the most appropriate to balance the interests of justice, deterrence, and rehabilitation, and sentenced the accused to eight years imprisonment for manslaughter.
Court Disposition
The accused was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for manslaughter.
Orders
- The accused shall serve eight years imprisonment.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
22 paragraphs
Republic v Tioko (Criminal Case 4 of 2020) [2023] KEHC 17875 (KLR) (31 May 2023) (Sentence)
Neutral citation: [2023] KEHC 17875 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Lodwar
Criminal Case 4 of 2020
JK Sergon, J
May 31, 2023
Between
Republic
Prosecutor
and
Aletia Lochuro Tioko
Accused
Sentence
1. The Accused Person herein Namely:- Aletia Lochuro Tioko, underwent a trial for the offence of Murder Contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. However, after undergoing a trial for the offence of Murder, this court on March 30, 2023 instead convicted him for the offence of Manslaughter Contrary to Section 202 as red with Section 205 of thePenal Code.
2. Upon convicting the Accused, this court invited the Accused to make submissions on mitigation and also called the County Probation Officer to file a Presentence Report.
3. I have considered the written submissions filed by Mr Ondabu, Learned Advocate for the Defence. The Learned Defence Advocate has urged this court to mete out a lenient sentence considering the fact that the Accused is the sole bread winner for the family and that he supported his grandmother, his sisters and his children.
4. I have also taken note of the fact that the Accused has been in custody since 2020, a period of about nearly four (4) years.
5. In the Pre-sentence Report, it indicated that the Accused’s father was killed by bandits when the Accused was very young. The Deceased’s family have in the report expressed themselves in the Report that they are not ready to accept the offender serve a non-custodial sentence since they are still to come to terms with Deceased’s death.
6. Having considered the Pre-sentence Report prepared by the County probation Officer plus the written submissions on mitigation and the fact that the Accused has been in custody since 2020, I am convinced that a custodial sentence is the most appropriate sentence.
7. Consequently, I hereby sentence the Accused to serve 8 years imprisonment.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY THIS 31ST DAY OF MAY, 2023. ………….…………….J.K. SERGONJUDGEIn the presence of:C/Assistant – RutohProsecutor - KakoiAccused – Present in Prison