[2020] KEHC 7408 (KLR)
The court found that, following the Supreme Court's decision in Muruatetu, the mandatory death sentence for murder is unconstitutional and that sentencing should be individualized based on mitigating and aggravating factors. The petitioner had served 8 years of his sentence and spent 3 years in pre-trial custody....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2020] KEHC 7408 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Stephen Wambua Nguva; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kitale
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Petition 68 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Petition / Resentencing Application Following Supreme Court Decision
- Outcome
- petition allowed in part; petitioner resentenced
- Judges
- HK Chemitei
- Legal Topics
- Murder Sentencing, Mandatory Death Penalty, Mitigating Factors, Resentencing Guidelines
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Stephen Wambua Nguva
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Petition / Resentencing Application Following Supreme Court Decision
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the mandatory death sentence for murder under section 204 of the Penal Code is unconstitutional in light of the Supreme Court decision in Muruatetu.
- 2 Whether the petitioner is entitled to resentencing based on mitigating factors and time already served.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that, following the Supreme Court's decision in Muruatetu, the mandatory death sentence for murder is unconstitutional and that sentencing should be individualized based on mitigating and aggravating factors. The petitioner had served 8 years of his sentence and spent 3 years in pre-trial custody. The court considered the petitioner's rehabilitative efforts, the Sentencing Policy Guidelines, and comparative sentences in similar cases. Taking all factors into account, the court determined that a sentence of 25 years' imprisonment, commencing from the date of conviction, was appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances of the offence and the petitioner.
Court Disposition
petition allowed in part; petitioner resentenced
Orders
- The petitioner is resentenced to twenty-five (25) years imprisonment commencing from 8/6/2011, the date of conviction.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
41 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KITALE
CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 68 OF 2018
STEPHEN WAMBUA NGUVA.....PETITIONER
VERSUS
REPUBLIC...................................RESPONDENT
RULING
1. The Petitioner herein has filed this petition requesting this court to consider resentencing her pursuant to the decision of the Supreme Court in Francis Karioko Muruatetu & Another =Vs= Republic [2017] eKLRwhere the court held that:
“(69) consequently, we find that section 204 of the Penal Code is inconsistent with the constitution and invalid to the extent that it provides for the mandatory death sentence for murder.”
2. The petitioner was charged, convicted and sentenced to death for the offence of murder contrary to section 202as read withsection 203of thePenal Code (Chapter 63 of the Laws of Kenya) at a trial before the High Court at Kitale in Criminal Case No. 11 of 2009 on8/6/2011.
3. The Petitioner now wishes to take advantage of the Supreme Court decision in Francis Karioko Muruatetu (Supra). In his petition, he attached has attached certificates demonstrating that he has been involved in rehabilitative programmes hence is now reformed.
4. It is worth noting that the Supreme Court in the Muruatetu case, considered that in re-sentencing in a case of murder, the following mitigating factors would be applicable as a guide namely:-
(a) age of the offender
(b) being a first offender
(c) whether the offender pleaded guilty
(d) character and record of the offender
(e) Commission of the offence in relation to gender-based violence.
(f) remorsefulness of the offender
(g) the possibility of reform and social-re adaptation of the offender
(h) any other factor that the court considers relevant.
5. Under the Sentencing Policy Guidelines, 2016 (“the Guidelines”) published by the Kenya Judiciary state (at para. 4. 1), the courts are urged to consider that the sentence imposed must meet the following objectives;
Retribution; To punish the offender for his/her criminal conduct in a just manner.
Deterrence; To deter the offender from committing a similar offence subsequently as well as discourage other people from committing similar offences.
Rehabilitation: To enable the offender reform from his criminal disposition and become a law abiding person.
Restorative justice: To address the needs arising from criminal conduct such as loss and damages.
Community protection: To protect the community by incapacitating the offender.
Denunciation: To communicate the community’s condemnation of the criminal conduct.
8. In determining this petition, it is imperative to look at the sentences which have been imposed by other Courts following the decision in the Muruatetu case in offences of this nature. The Court of Appeal decision post the Muruatetu Case provide some guidance on the appropriate sentence. In Jonathan Lemiso Ole Keni v Republic NRB Criminal Appeal No.51 of 2016 (2018) eKLRwhere the petitioner shot a person without any provocation, the court imposed a sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment. In John Ndede Ochodho alias Obago v Republic KSM CA Criminal Appeal No. 120 of 2014 (2018) eKLR,the Court of Appeal upheld a sentence of 25 years in a case of murder where the petitioner assaulted the deceased several times causing his death.
9. From the record, the Petitioner has since served 8 years of his sentence. Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code requires a sentencing court to take into account the period that a convicted person has spent in custody prior to the sentence. I note that the Petitioner remained in pre-trial custody for a period 3 years.
10. Taking into account the mitigating and aggravating factors, I have considered the entirety of the facts and therefore I hereby re-sentence the Petitioner to Twenty five (25) yearsimprisonment commencing from the date he was convicted by the trial 8court that is 8/6/2011.
Signed, Dated and Delivered at Kitale on this 3rd day of March, 2020.
________________
H.K. CHEMITEI
JUDGE
3/3/2020
In eh presence of:-
Ms Kagai for the Respondent
Applicant – present
Court Assistant – Kirong
Ruling read in open court.