UBUSHINJACYAHA v. BAGIRUWUBUSA J. Nepomuscene
The Court held that the defendant's request for further reduction of sentence lacked merit because the mitigating factors had already been fully considered by the High Court, which reduced the sentence from life imprisonment to 25 years. No new mitigating circumstances were presented. The request for a suspended...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RPAA 00157/2021/CA
- Parties
- Prosecution: Ubushinjacyaha; Defendant: Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscene
- Court
- Court of Appeal
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 28 July 2022
- Case Number
- RPAA 00157/2021/CA
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Murder, Sentencing, Mitigation of Sentence, Appeal Procedure
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ubushinjacyaha
Prosecution
Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscene
Defendant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Court of Appeal Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the defendant is entitled to further reduction of sentence for admitting guilt and seeking forgiveness
- 2 Whether the defendant is eligible for suspended sentence (sursis)
Ratio Decidendi
The Court held that the defendant's request for further reduction of sentence lacked merit because the mitigating factors had already been fully considered by the High Court, which reduced the sentence from life imprisonment to 25 years. No new mitigating circumstances were presented. The request for a suspended sentence was also denied because the sentence imposed exceeds five years, making the defendant ineligible under the law.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed
Orders
- The judgment of the High Court, Musanze Chamber, sentencing the defendant to 25 years imprisonment remains unchanged.
- Court costs to be borne by the State.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
13 paragraphs
# UBUSHINJACYAHA v. BAGIRUWUBUSA J. Nepomuscene
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2022-07-28 - Case/document no.: RPAA 00157/2021/CA - Collection: Court of Appeal
## Text
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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. BAGIRUWUBUSA J. Nepomuscene [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 00157/2021/CA (Rugabirwa, P.J.) 28 Nyakanga 2022] Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Igabanyagihano – Gusaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano – Ntawasaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano mugihe mu Rukiko rubanza yagabanyirijwe bihagije. Incamake y’ikibazo: Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Musanze, Ubushinjacyaha bukurikiranye uregwa ku kuba yarakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi buvuga ko yishe nyina amunigishije umugozi, arangije, amanika umurambo we. uregwa yaburanye yemera icyaha anagisabira imbabazi. Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko ahamwa n’icyaha cy’ubwicanyi, rumuhanisha igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu. Uregwa yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, avuga ko yaburanye yemera icyaha ku buryo budashidikanywaho akanagisabira imbabazi, ariko ko atagabanyirijwe ibihano nk’uko biteganywa n’amategeko, maze asaba ko yahabwa ibihano bito biteganywa n’amategeko, ndetse bikanasubikwa. Urwo Rukiko narwo rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko urubanza rwajuririwe ruhindutse gusa ku birebana n’ibihano, rumuhanisha igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25). Uregwa nanone yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kubera ko yemeye icyaha anagisabira imbabazi kuva mu nzego z’iperereza kugera muri uru Rukiko, ndetse ko akwiye no guhabwa isubikagihano kugira ngo ajye gusaba umuryango we imbabazi. Ubushinjacyaha bwo bwaburanye buvuga ko uregwa atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko nta gishya agaragariza uru Rukiko rwashingiraho rwongera kukimugabanyiriza, kubera ko ibyo arusaba yarangije kubihabwa n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, rwamuvanye ku gifungo cya burundu, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 25.ite. Incamake y’icyemezo: Ntawasaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano mugihe mu Rukiko rubanza yagabanyirijwe bihagije, bityo uregwa ntiyakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko ibyo asaba yarangije kubihabwa n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, ubwo rwamuhanishaga igifungo cy’imyaka 25, aho kumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Amategeko yashingiweho: Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/8/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, Ingingo ya 49,64 n’iya 107. Imanza zifashishijwe: Ubushinjacyaha v. Ashimwe, RPA 00068/2018/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 28/06/2019.
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Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Musanze, Ubushinjacyaha burega Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène kuba yarakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi kubera ko ku wa 09/10/2019, mu gihe cya saa tanu na saa sita z’amanywa, yishe nyina Nyirafaranga Gaudence amunigishije umugozi, arangije, amanika umurambo we, akavuga ko yasanze nyina yiyahuye, amuziza ko atamuhaye ibiryo. Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène yaburanye yemera icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi. [2] Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza No RP 00675/2019/TGI/MUS ku wa 31/10/2019, rwemeje ko Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène ahamwa n’icyaha cy’ubwicanyi, rumuhanisha igifungo burundu, Urwo Rukiko rwasobanuye ko n’ubwo uregwa yemera icyaha atagabanyirizwa igihano kubera ububi bw’icyaha yakoze cyo kwica nyina, amunize, yarangiza, akamumanika. [3] Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, avuga ko yaburanye yemera icyaha ku buryo budashidikanywaho akanagisabira imbabazi, ariko ko atagabanyirijwe ibihano nk’uko biteganywa n’amategeko, maze asaba ko yahabwa ibihano bito biteganywa n’amategeko, ndetse bikanasubikwa. [4] Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza No RPA 00610/2019/HC/MUS, ku wa 20/10/2020, rwemeza ko urubanza rwajuririwe ruhindutse gusa ku birebana n’ibihano, ruhanisha BAGIRUWUBUSA Jean Nepomuscène igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25). [5] Urwo Rukiko rwasobanuye mu bika bya 13 kugeza ku cya 15 by’urubanza rwajuririwe, ko Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano, agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka 25 kubera ko yemeye icyaha mu nzego zose, hanarebwe uko icyaha cyakozwe, no kugira ngo hahuzwe igihano n’uregwa wari ubanye nabi n’umuryango we, kugira ngo icyo gihano kizamufashe kwikosora no gusubira mu muryango no kugira icyo yikorera kuko akiri muto bitewe n’uko afite imyaka 30, bityo ko atahabwa isubikagihano kubera icyo gihano ahanishijwe. [6] Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène yajuririye na none urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kubera ko yemeye icyaha anagisabira imbabazi kuva mu Nzego z’iperereza kugera muri uru Rukiko, ndetse ko akwiye no guhabwa isubikagihano kugira ngo ajye gusaba umuryango we imbabazi. [7] Urubanza rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame ku wa 07/07/2022, Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène yunganiwe na Me Ruganza Bin Seba, naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Niyonkuru Françoise, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu. IBIBAZO BIRI MU RUBANZA N’ ISESENGURWA RYABYO 1.Kumenya niba Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène yakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko yemera icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi.
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[8] Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène avuga ko akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko yemeye icyaha cy’ubwicanyi yakoze kimugwiririye kuko atari yagiteguye anagisabira imbabazi kuva agifatwa kugera muri uru Rukiko, ariko ko Urukiko Rukuru rwamuhanishije igihano kiremereye cy’imyaka 25. [9] Me Ruganza Bin Seba, umwunganira, avuga ko Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko yemeye icyaha cy’ubwicanyi kuva mu Nzego z’iperereza kugera muri uru Rukiko, ariko Urukiko Rukururwamuhanishije igifungo cy’imyaka 25 mu mwanya w’igifungo cya burundu nk’uko biteganywa n’ingingo ya 60 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 ritegenya ibyaha n'ibihano muri rusange, asaba ko yahanishwa igifungo gito cy’imyaka 10 hashingiwe ku manza z’icyitegererezo (jurisprudence) zaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga n’uru Rukiko, aho izo Nkiko zagiye zigabanyiriza abaregwa igihano zikabahanisha igifungo gito kiri munsi y’igiteganywa n’itegeko mu gihe hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha nko kwemera icyaha no kugisabira imbabazo nk’uko byakozwe n’uregwa bikemezwa n’Urukiko Rukuru. [10] Yongeyeho ko uru Rukiko rutakwanga kugabanyiriza ko Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène igihano hashingiwe ku mikirize y’urubanza Nº RPA 0016/14/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 30/06/2017, Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ndahayo Innocent, rwatanzwe nk’urubanza rw’icyitegererezo (jurisprudence) n’ uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha muri uru rubanza kubera ko urwo rubanza rwaciwe kera mu mwaka wa 2017, nyamara nyuma yaho, haraciwe izindi manza, aho urwo Rukiko rwemeje ko uregwa ashobora guhanishwa igihano gito kiri munsi y’igiteganywa n’itegeko, iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha nko kwemera icyaha no kugisabira imbabazi. [11] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène ibyo avuga ko yishe nyina atabigambiriye bitahabwa agaciro kuko mu Bushinjacyaha yavuze ko nta mpamvu yari gutuma yica nyina, ko kuba noneho mu mwanzuro we avuga ko yishe nyina kuko yahoraga amutoteza akamwima uburenganzira mu rugo nk’umwana ari ugushakisha impamvu ariko ko nta mpamvu ifatika yari gutuma yica nyina. [12] Avuga kandi ko Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko nta gishya agaragariza uru Rukiko rwashingiraho rwongera kukimugabanyiriza, kubera ko ibyo arusaba yarangije kubihabwa n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, rwamuvanye ku gifungo cya burundu, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 25. [13] Avuga na none ko iby’uko Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko Urukiko Rukuru rwamugabanyirije igihano bihagije hashingiwe ku kwemera icyaha byatanzweho umurongo n’Urukiko Rw’Ikirenga mu rubanza Nº RPA 0016/14/CS ku wa 30/06/2017, Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ndahayo Innocent, aho urwo Rukiko rwasanze impamvu uwajuriye yashingiyeho itakongera gushingirwaho ngo agabanyirizwe ibihano, kubera ko nta gishya agaragaza mu bujurire cyaherwaho yongera kugabanirizwa ibihano, kuko ibyo asaba yabikorewe n’umucamanza wa mbere, kandi bigaragara ko igihano yahanishijwe kiri mu rugero rukwiye, harebewe ku mikorere y’icyaha n’uwagikorewe. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA
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[14] Ingingo ya 107 y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, iteganya ko “Umuntu wica undi abishaka, aba akoze icyaha. Iyo abihamijwe n’urukiko, ahanishwa igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu”. [15] Ku bijyanye n’igabanyagihano Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène asaba kubera ko yemeye icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi, ingingo ya 59, uduce twa 1º na 3º y’Itegeko rimaze kuvugwa haruguru, iteganya ko “Umucamanza ashobora kugabanya ibihano nk’iyo: ushinjwa, mbere yo gukurikiranwa, yemeye icyaha akagisabira imbabazi uwo yakoreye icyaha n’umuryango nyarwanda mu buryo budashidikanywa, akicuza kandi akishyura ibyo yangije nk’uko bari babimutegerejeho n’iyo mu ntangiriro z’iburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere, ushinjwa yireze akemera icyaha mu buryo budashidikanywa”. [16] Naho ingingo ya 49, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru, iteganya ko “Umucamanza atanga igihano akurikije uburemere bw'icyaha, ingaruka icyaha cyateye, impamvu zatumye agikora, uko uwagikoze yari asanzwe yitwara, imibereho ye bwite n’uburyo icyaha cyakozwemo (..).” [17] Imikirize y’urubanza Nº RPA 00610/2019/HC/MUS rwaciwe ku wa 20/10/2020 rwajuririwe muri uru Rukiko, mu gika cyarwo cya 13, igaragaza ko Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, rwagabanyirije Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène igihano hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha ijyanye n’uko yemeye icyaha aregwa mu buryo budashidikanywaho, anagisabira imbabazi mu Nzego zose, bituma rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 25, aho kumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu yashoboraga guhanishwa hakurikijwe ibiteganywa n’ingingo ya 107 y’Itegeko no 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 ryavuzwe haruguru. [18] Urukiko rusanga n’ubwo Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène yageze imbere y’uru Rukiko agakomeza kwemera icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi, atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko ibyo asaba yarangije kubihabwa n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, ubwo rwamuhanishaga igifungo cy’imyaka 25, aho kumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru, cyane cyane ko n’impamvu nyoroshyacyaha ashingiraho asaba kongera kugabanyirizwa igihano ijyanye n’uko yemeye icyaha anagisabira imbabazi ninayo urwo Rukiko rwashingiyeho rumugabanyiriza igihano. [19] Ibimaze gusobanurwa mu gika kibanziriza iki bihuje kandi n’ibyemejwe mu manza nyinshi zaciwe n’uru Rukiko zirimo urubanza Nº RPA 00068/2018/CA rwaciwe ku wa 28/06/2019, Ubushinjacyaha buburana na Ashimwe Josué. 2. Kumenya niba BAGIRUWUBUSA Jean Nepomuscène yahabwa isubikagihano (sursis) [20] Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène avuga ko akwiye guhabwa isubikagihano kugira ngo ajye gusaba umuryango we imbabazi. [21] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 64 y’Itegeko No 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène atahabwa isubikagihano kuko yahanishijwe igifungo kirengeje imyaka 5 nk’uko byasobanuwe mu gika cya 19 cy’urubanza rwajuririwe muri uru Rukiko.
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UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [22] Ku birebana n’isubikagihano Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène asaba, ingingo ya 64, igika cya mbere, y’Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, iteganya ko “Isubikagihano ni icyemezo cy’urukiko gihagarika irangizarubanza ku gihano itegeko riteganyiriza igifungo kitarengeje imyaka itanu (5). Isubikagihano ritangwa hashingiwe ku buremere bw’icyaha“. [23] Hashingiwe kuri iyo ngingo, Urukiko rusanga Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène atahabwa isubikagihano asaba kubera ko ahanishijwe igifungo kirengeje imyaka itanu (5) nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [24] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène nta shingiro bufite. [25] Ruvuze ko imikirize y’urubanza Nº RPA 00610/2019/HC/MUS rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Musanze, ku wa 20/10/2020, idahindutse, bivuze ko igifungo cy’imyaka makumyabiri n’itanu (25) Bagiruwubusa Jean Nepomuscène yahanishijwe n’urwo Rukiko kigumyeho. [26] Rutegetse ko amagarama y’uru rubanza aherera mu Isanduku ya Leta.