[2005] KEHC 1215 (KLR)
The court found that the prosecution in the lower court was conducted by an incompetent person, Sgt. Gitau, contrary to section 85(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. This rendered the entire trial a nullity. The court further considered the State Counsel's concession and the fact that the appellant had already...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2005] KEHC 1215 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Robert Maina Njoroge; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nyeri
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal 107 of 2003
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal allowed; conviction quashed; sentence set aside; appellant to be released unless otherwise lawfully held.
- Legal Topics
- Incompetent Prosecution, Nullity of Trial, Retrial Discretion
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Robert Maina Njoroge
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the prosecution in the lower court was conducted by a competent person as required by law.
- 2 Whether the trial was a nullity due to incompetence of the prosecutor.
- 3 Whether an order for retrial should be made after quashing the conviction.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the prosecution in the lower court was conducted by an incompetent person, Sgt. Gitau, contrary to section 85(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. This rendered the entire trial a nullity. The court further considered the State Counsel's concession and the fact that the appellant had already served more than half of his sentence. In the circumstances, the court held that a retrial would not be appropriate. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, the conviction quashed, and the sentence set aside. The appellant was ordered to be released unless otherwise lawfully held.
Court Disposition
appeal allowed; conviction quashed; sentence set aside; appellant to be released unless otherwise lawfully held.
Orders
- The appeal is allowed.
- The conviction is quashed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
9 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NYERI Criminal Appeal 107 of 2003
ROBERT MAINA NJOROGE …………………………………………. APPELLANT VERSUS REPUBLIC ………………………………..…………………………. RESPONDENT(Appeal original from Judgment and Conviction in Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court at Murang’a in Criminal Case No. 111 of 2002 dated 13th May 2002 by L. Wachira – D.M.II (Prof) – Murang’a)J U D G M E N T
Robert Maina Njoroge hereinafter referred to the appellant was tried and convicted by the Resident Magistrate Murang’a for the offence of attempted Rape contrary to section 141 of the Penal Code. He was sentenced on the 11th March 2002 to serve a sentence of 5 years imprisonment and to receive 3 strokes of the cane. It is evident from the proceedings that the prosecution of the trial in the lower court was conducted by one Sgt. Gitau a person who was not competent to prosecute the case under section 85 (2) of the Criminal procedure Code. Needless to state that the trial before the lower court was a nullity and the conviction must be quashed and sentence set aside.
Learned State Counsel Ms Ngalyuka whilst conceding this appeal has intimated to the court that she is not pressing for an order of retrial as the appellant has already served more than half the sentence which was imposed upon him.
I concur with Ms Ngalyuka that an order of retrial may not be appropriate in the circumstances. Accordingly I do allow the appeal, quash the conviction and set aside the sentence imposed upon the appellant.
The appellant shall be set free unless otherwise lawfully held.
Dated signed and delivered this 17th day of November 2005.
H. M. OKWENGU JUDGE