[2006] KEHC 157 (KLR)
The court found that the trial magistrate erred by allowing an interested party, who was neither an accused, complainant, nor witness, to participate in the criminal trial as if it were a civil matter. The magistrate further failed to take sworn evidence from all relevant parties, relied solely on statements from...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2006] KEHC 157 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: Teresio Muchira Njagi; Applicant: Henry Nguma Ndege; Applicant: Cyrus Mithamo Njiru; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Embu
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Revision 2 of 2006
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Revision / Ruling on Revision
- Outcome
- orders of the trial magistrate set aside; vehicle to be returned to police custody; trial magistrate disqualified from further conduct of the case
- Legal Topics
- Criminal Revision Procedure, Handling of Exhibits, Joinder of Parties, Abuse of Process
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Teresio Muchira Njagi
Applicant
Henry Nguma Ndege
Applicant
Cyrus Mithamo Njiru
Applicant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Revision / Ruling on Revision
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the trial magistrate erred in permitting an interested party to join in a criminal trial as if it were a civil proceeding.
- 2 Whether the trial magistrate failed to follow proper procedure in handling the application for release of the motor vehicle.
- 3 Whether the orders for release of the vehicle prejudiced ongoing police investigations and the criminal process.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the trial magistrate erred by allowing an interested party, who was neither an accused, complainant, nor witness, to participate in the criminal trial as if it were a civil matter. The magistrate further failed to take sworn evidence from all relevant parties, relied solely on statements from advocates, and ignored the prosecution's plea to retain the vehicle as an exhibit. These actions amounted to an abuse of the criminal process and interfered with ongoing investigations. Consequently, the orders for release of the vehicle were set aside as null and void, and the vehicle was ordered to be returned to police custody pending the conclusion of the criminal trial. The...
Court Disposition
orders of the trial magistrate set aside; vehicle to be returned to police custody; trial magistrate disqualified from further conduct of the case
Orders
- Orders made by the trial magistrate on 7/10/2005 and 14/10/2005 are set aside and declared null and void.
- Motor vehicle KAS 157 N shall be seized and returned to police custody by DCIO Embu pending finalization of the criminal trial.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
29 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT EMBU
Criminal Revision 2 of 2006
TERESIO MUCHIRA NJAGI……………………………………..1ST APPLICANT
HENRY NGUMA NDEGE……………………………………….2ND APPLICANT
CYRUS MITHAMO NJIRU………………..……………………..3RD APPLICANT
VERSUS
REPUBLIC ……………………………………..………………….RESPONDENT
RULING ON REVISION
The charge sheet herein contains count 1- stealing contrary to section 275 of Penal Code.
Particulars are stated that:
1. Teresio Muchira Njagi
2. Henry Nguma Ndege
3. Cyrus Mithamo Njiru.
On the 14th day of February 2005 at Kirinyaga Township in Kirinyaga District within Central Province jointly with others not before the court stole land title deed for land parcel No./ Mwea/Ngucui/579 the property of Kaguma Muchira Rukenya valued at shs.200,000/=. The Complainant is the said Kaguma Muchira Rukenya.
On 6/3/2006 a letter was received from the firm of Morris Njage & Co. Advocates who was instructed by one Moses Mwaniki who is not named in the charge sheet. It is this Moses Mwaniki who has called for this Revision. He was claiming that motor vehicle KAS 157 N was his property.
However on 27/9/2005 Mr. Mugo Advocate came on record in Criminal Case No. 2514/05 at Embu lower court for a person called Peter Ndinga who said he had purchased the vehicle. Mr. Mugo applied for the release of the vehicle which the court ordered on 14. 10. 2005.
On the same day State Counsel obtained orders for stay Orders were not executed and the vehicle is still in custody of Mr. Peter Ndinga. Mr. Peter Ndinga is neither an accused, a complainant or a witness in this case. The vehicle was detained by police and not produced in court yet. The prosecution had indicated that they were still investigating the matter and releasing the vehicle would prejudice the police investigations.
My Findings:-
1. The Resident Magistrate erred in permitting an “interested” Party to join in a Criminal trial he was treating the proceedings as if it were civil proceedings.
2. The Trial Magistrate failed to take evidence of the interested party and relied solely on statements made by the Advocate. Trial Magistrate was shown a sale agreement relating to the vehicle but did not care to hear the seller Teresio Muchira Njagi (first Accused) in this case.
3. The Trial Magistrate ignored the pleas of prosecution that that vehicle was to be used as exhibit not withstanding that the first accused was the owner of the vehicle at some time.
4. The Trial Magistrate conducted the issue of the vehicle without following set out court process especially not following the established procedure of taking sworn evidence and without hearing all the parties concerned thus abusing the criminal process of court.
5. He was interfering with the investigations by prosecutions of the Criminal case before him.
In the circumstances the orders made by Trial Magistrate on 7/10/2005 and 14/10/2005 are hereby set aside and declared invalid -null and void. The Motor Vehicle KAS 157 N shall be seized and returned to Police custody by DCIO Embu pending the finalization of this Criminal Trial. Also the Trial Magistrate is released from further conducting this case which will henceforth be tried by another Magistrate of competent jurisdiction.
Dated this 13th day of March 2006.
J.N. KHAMINWA
JUDGE