[2024] KEHC 3043 (KLR)
The trial court failed to comply with section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code by not considering the period the appellant spent in custody prior to sentencing. This omission prejudiced the appellant. The High Court, therefore, ordered that the 10-year sentence should run from the date the appellant took plea,...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2024] KEHC 3043 (KLR)
- Parties
- Appellant: Wako Jattan Wario; Respondent: Republic
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Marsabit
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Criminal Appeal E032 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Ruling on Appeal Against Sentence
- Outcome
- sentence varied to commence from date of plea
- Judges
- JN Njagi
- Legal Topics
- Defilement, Sentencing Procedure, Credit for Time Served, Sexual Offences Act, Criminal Procedure Code, Child Victims
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
More case intelligence is available
Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.
Parties
Wako Jattan Wario
Appellant
Republic
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Ruling on Appeal Against Sentence
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the trial court erred by failing to consider the period spent in custody by the appellant when passing sentence.
- 2 Whether the sentence should be adjusted to comply with section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Ratio Decidendi
The trial court failed to comply with section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code by not considering the period the appellant spent in custody prior to sentencing. This omission prejudiced the appellant. The High Court, therefore, ordered that the 10-year sentence should run from the date the appellant took plea, thereby giving effect to the statutory requirement and correcting the trial court's error.
Court Disposition
sentence varied to commence from date of plea
Orders
- The sentence of 10 years imprisonment shall be served commencing from January 9, 2023, the date the appellant took plea.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
19 paragraphs
Wario v Republic (Criminal Appeal E032 of 2023) [2024] KEHC 3043 (KLR) (20 March 2024) (Ruling)
Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 3043 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Marsabit
Criminal Appeal E032 of 2023
JN Njagi, J
March 20, 2024
Between
Wako Jattan Wario
Appellant
and
Republic
Respondent
(Being an appeal from the original conviction and sentence by Willy K. Cheruiyot, PM, in Moyale P.M’s Court Criminal MSCO Case No.E002 of 2023 delivered on 28/11/2023)
Ruling
1. The appellant was convicted for the offence of defilement and was sentenced to serve 10 years imprisonment. He has now filed amended grounds of appeal stating that the trial court in sentencing him did not take note of the period spent in custody awaiting trial contrary to the provisions so section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The applicant in support of his application relied on the cases of Ahanah Abol Fathi Mohamed & another–v-Republic (2018) eKLR & Bethwel Wilson Kibor –v- Republic (2009)eKLR.
2. I have perused the record of the trial court. During sentencing the trial magistrate only stated that he had considered the provisions of section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act under which the applicant was charged. He stated that the offence of defilement was committed against a child aged 15 years. The magistrate then sentenced the applicant to a sentence of 10 years imprisonment. The magistrate did not state that he had considered the period spent in custody awaiting trial.
3. The applicant was sentenced on 21. 11. 23. He was arraigned in court on the 9th January, 2023. He was in custody throughout the trial. This was a period of about 10 months. Section 333(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code behoves a court before sentencing an accused person who has been in custody during the trial to take into account the period spent in custody when sentencing the accused. The trial court in this case did not comply with the provisions of the section. The applicant was thus prejudiced by the sentence. It is the duty of this court to correct any mistake done by the trial court. I accordingly order that the sentence of 10 years imprisonment be served commencing from the date the applicant took plea, that is on January 9, 2023. It is so ordered.
DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT MARSABIT THIS 20TH DAY OF MARCH, 2024. J.N. NJAGIJUDGEIn the presence of:Mr. Ngigi for RespondentApplicant – Appearing in personCourt Assistant Jarso14 days Right of Appeal