[2021] KEHC 1669 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant had been granted bail pending trial and therefore was not in continuous custody during the trial period. As such, Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code did not apply to his case. Furthermore, the court held that it lacked jurisdiction to review or interfere with the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2021] KEHC 1669 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Samuel Ochieng Ngada; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Siaya
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application E113 of 2021
- Procedural Posture
- Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Sentence Revision Application After Conviction and Sentencing
- Outcome
- Application dismissed.
- Judges
- RE Aburili
- Legal Topics
- Manslaughter, Sentencing Revision, Pre Sentence Custody, Application of Section 333 2, Bail Pending Trial
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Samuel Ochieng Ngada
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Criminal Application / Sentence Revision Application After Conviction and Sentencing
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the period spent in custody prior to sentencing should be considered in reduction of the applicant's sentence under Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
- 2 Whether the High Court has jurisdiction to review or interfere with a sentence lawfully imposed by a judge of concurrent jurisdiction when an appeal is pending.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant had been granted bail pending trial and therefore was not in continuous custody during the trial period. As such, Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code did not apply to his case. Furthermore, the court held that it lacked jurisdiction to review or interfere with the sentence imposed by a judge of concurrent jurisdiction, particularly since an appeal was pending before the Court of Appeal. The application for sentence revision was therefore declined and dismissed.
Court Disposition
Application dismissed.
Orders
- The application for sentence revision is declined and dismissed.
- File closed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT SIAYA
MISC. CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO. E113 OF 2021
CORAM: R.E. ABURILI J
SAMUEL OCHIENG NGADA.............................................................................APPLICANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC...........................................................................................................RESPONDENT
Being an application for sentence revision from arising from conviction and sentence of the
High Court at Siaya in Criminal Case No. 47 of 2015 on 21/4/2016 by Hon. J. Makau - J)
RULING
1. The applicant herein is Samuel Ochieng Ngada. He applies by his Notice of motion filed on 9/11/2021, for reconsideration of 2 years and 4 months spend in custody prior to his sentencing by Hon. J. Makau J in Siaya HC Cr. Case No. 47 of 2015 where he was convicted of the offence of Manslaughter contrary to Section 202 of Penal Code. Initially he had been charged with the offence of Murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Codewhich charge was substituted in the judgment of Makau J rendered on 21/4/2016.
2. I have called for the trial court record and observed that the applicant was sentenced to serve 12 years imprisonment.
3. Punishment for Manslaughter is life imprisonments, upon conviction. The trial Judge exercised his discretion leniently and imposed a lesser severe sentence which cannot be compared to a life imprisonment maximum provided by the law. There is no illegality or omission by the trial court and application of Section 333(2) is applicable only where the accused person was in custody during the period of his trial or where he never absconded bond granted to him.
4. In this case, proceedings of the trial court in HCR 47/2015 show that the accused now convict applicant was granted bail pending trial on 18/6/2015 after a favourable Prebail report was received by the court vide orders of Hon. J. Owiti, Deputy Registrar.
5. The original court record was forwarded to Kisumu Court of Appeal following an appeal filed by the State vide Notice of Appeal dated 20th June 2016.
6. As the outcome of the appeal is unknown, I find no jurisdiction to entertain any application to review or interfere with sentence lawfully imposed by the learned Judge of concurrent jurisdiction.
7. The application is declined and dismissed.
8. File closed.
9. Orders accordingly.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT SIAYA THIS 16TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2021
R.E. ABURILI
JUDGE