[2013] KEHC 1463 (KLR)
The court found that although the applicant committed the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, her actions were provoked by anger after the complainant, an 8-year-old child under her care, concealed information about her own defilement. The court held that the trial court failed to consider the broader...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2013] KEHC 1463 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: S R M; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kakamega
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Miscellaneous Application 128 of 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Ruling on Revision
- Outcome
- sentence reviewed; applicant released
- Legal Topics
- Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm, Sentencing Review, Child Victims, Mitigating Circumstances
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
S R M
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Ruling on Revision
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the sentence of three years imprisonment for assault causing actual bodily harm was appropriate in the circumstances.
- 2 Whether the trial court considered the broader context, including the complainant's defilement and the applicant's role as caregiver.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that although the applicant committed the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, her actions were provoked by anger after the complainant, an 8-year-old child under her care, concealed information about her own defilement. The court held that the trial court failed to consider the broader context, including the seriousness of the defilement and the applicant's role as caregiver. Imprisoning the applicant would not serve substantive justice, as it would deprive the child of her caregiver. The court therefore reviewed the sentence, replacing the three-year imprisonment with the period already served, and ordered the applicant's release unless otherwise lawfully held.
Court Disposition
sentence reviewed; applicant released
Orders
- The sentence of three years imprisonment is reviewed and replaced with the period already served.
- The applicant shall be set at liberty unless otherwise lawfully held.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
12 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KAKAMEGA
CRIMINAL MISC. APPLICATION NO. 128 OF 2012
S R M ……………………………………… APPLICANT
V E R S U S
REPUBLIC …….……….………………. RESPONDENT
RULING ON REVISION
The applicant was charged with the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm contrary to section 251 of the Penal Code. The particulars of the offence were that the applicant on the 3rd day of June 2012 at [particulars wittheld] in Vihiga County within Western Province unlawfully assaulted A A thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
The applicant pleaded guilty and he was sentenced to serve three years imprisonment. I have gone through the facts as explained by the prosecutor before the trial court. The applicant was living with the complainant who is the applicant’s niece. The circumstances were that the complainant seems to have been defiled by somebody else and the applicant tried to find out from the complainant what had happened. The complainant tried to hide and the applicant herein got annoyed and burnt the complainant with a hot spoon. I have seen the P3 form which indicates that the complainant was aged 8 years old was defiled on the 3. 6.2012. Although the applicant committed an offence, I do find that her action was out of anger as the child decided to hide information that could have been used to arrest the defiler. The trial court ought to have looked at the bigger picture and consider the offence of defilement as a more serious offence compared to that of assault. The applicant herein was the one taking care of the complainant and putting her in jail will not serve substantive justice. I do find that the application is merited. The sentence of three years imprisonment is hereby reviewed and replaced with the period already served. The applicant shall be set at liberty unless otherwise lawfully held.
Delivered, dated and signed at Kakamega this 30th day of October 2013
SAID J. CHITEMBWE
J U D G E