IKIGEGA CYIHARIYE CY'INGOBOKA (SGF) v MURWANASHYAKA
The respondent's act of repeatedly striking his father with a stick on vital body parts constituted murder, not merely assault causing death, as the weapon and manner of attack showed sufficient intent. There was no credible evidence of provocation or other mitigating factors. The sentence imposed by the lower court...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- RCA00050/2022/HC/MUS
- Parties
- Applicant: Ikigega Cyihariye Cy'Ingoboka (SGF); Respondent: Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste; Prosecution: Ubushinjacyaha
- Court
- High Court
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Judgment Date
- 16 June 2023
- Case Number
- RCA00050/2022/HC/MUS
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment (high Court)
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence affirmed.
- Legal Topics
- Homicide, Assault Causing Death, Sentencing, Appeal Procedure
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Ikigega Cyihariye Cy'Ingoboka (SGF)
Applicant
Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste
Respondent
Ubushinjacyaha
Prosecution
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment (high Court)
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the respondent committed murder or assault causing death
- 2 Whether the sentence should be reduced due to provocation or first-time offense
Ratio Decidendi
The respondent's act of repeatedly striking his father with a stick on vital body parts constituted murder, not merely assault causing death, as the weapon and manner of attack showed sufficient intent. There was no credible evidence of provocation or other mitigating factors. The sentence imposed by the lower court stands as the prosecution did not appeal for a harsher penalty.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence affirmed.
Orders
- The judgment of the High Court (RPA 00531/2019/HC/RWG) is upheld; the sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 Frw remains in force.
- Court costs to be borne by the State.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
15 paragraphs
# IKIGEGA CYIHARIYE CY'INGOBOKA (SGF) v MURWANASHYAKA
- Source: Amategeko - Section: Decisions (Judgements) - Date: 2023-06-16 - Case/document no.: RCA00050/2022/HC/MUS - Collection: High Court
## Text
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UBUSHINJACYAHA v. MURWANASHYAKA [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 00218/2022/CA (Rugabirwa, P.J.) 30 Gicurasi 2023] Amategeko agenga imanza nshinjabyaha – Ubwicanyi – Gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu – Kugira ngo hamenyekane niba uwakubise undi ku bushake yari afite umugambi wo kumwica cyangwa niba yari agamije gusa kumukubita cyangwa kumukomeretsa, bisuzumirwa mu cyakoreshejwe (intwaro ishobora kwica) mu kumukubita no ku gice cy’umubiri cyakubiswe (mu cyico). Incamake y’ikibazo: Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare, uregwa akurikiranywe ku kuba yarakoze icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu, nyuma yuko akubise se umubyara witwa Kananura w’imyaka 62 y’amavuko, inkoni mu musaya w’iburyo no mu gatuza bimuviramo gupfa. Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza nuko rwemeza ko uregwa ahamwa n’icyaha cy’ubwicanyi, rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. Uregwa yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, arusaba kumugabanyiriza igihano kuberako yemeye icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu anagisabira imbabazi, ariko ko atakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi yahamijwe ku rwego rwa mbere. Urwo Rukiko narwo rwaciye urubanza, rwemeza ko urubanza rwajuririwe ruhindutse ku bijyanye n’inyito y’icyaha, ko uregwa ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu, aho kuba icyaha cy’ubwicanyi, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000 Frw). Uregwa nanone yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, arusaba kumugabanyiriza igihano kubera ko yakoze icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu abitewe n’ubusembure yakorewe na se, ndetse ko atishwe n’inkoni yamukubise mu musaya, ko ahubwo yishwe n’indwara y’umutima n’iy’umuvuduko w’amaraso yari asanzwe arwaye. Ubushinjacyaha bwo buvuga ko uregwa yakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi nk’uko byemejwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare, kubera ko yakubise se inkoni y’ikibando (igikoresho gishobora kwica) ahantu hatandukanye akomereka mu mutwe, mu misaya yombi (uw’iburyo n’uw’ibumoso, (mu cyico). Buvuga kandi ko atagabanyirizwa igihano kubera ubusembure aburanishije kuri uru rwego, mu gihe atigeze abuburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere, ariko ko mu gihe uru Rukiko rubibonye ukundi, rwakwemeza ko atasembuwe kubera ko nta kimenyetso kibigaragaza yatanze. Incamake y’icyemezo: Kugira ngo hamenyekane ni ba uwakubise undi ku bushake yari afite umugambi wo kumwica cyangwa niba yari agamije gusa kumukubita cyangwa kumukomeretsa, bisuzumirwa mu cyakoreshejwe (intwaro ishobora kwica) mu kumukubita no ku gice cy’umubiri cyakubiswe (mu cyico), bityo uregwa ahamwa n’icyaha cy’ubwicanyi nk’uko yagihamijwe ku rwego rwa mbere, aho kuba icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu. Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite.
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Imanza zifashishijwe: RPAA 0110/10/CS, Ubushinjacyaha vs. Uwamurengeye rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 31/01/2014. RPAA 00455/2021/CA, Ubushinjacyaha vs. Ndagijimana rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rw’Ubujurire ku wa 18/11/2022. Urubanza I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Uru rubanza rwatangiriye mu Rukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare, Ubushinjacyaha burega Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste kuba yarakoze icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu, kubera ko ku wa 21/04/2019, yakubise se umubyara witwa Kananura Thicien w’imyaka 62 y’amavuko, inkoni mu musaya w’iburyo no mu gatuza bimuviramo gupfa ku wa 05/05/2019, ni ukuvuga nyuma y’ibyumweru bibiri. Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yaburanye yemera icyaha anagisabira imbabazi. [2] Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza n° RP 00621/2019/TGI/NYG ku wa 14/06/2019, rwemeza ko Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste ahamwa n’icyaha cy’ubwicanyi, rumuhanisha igifungo cya burundu. [3] Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yajuririye urwo rubanza mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, arusaba kumugabanyiriza igihano kubera yemeye icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu anagisabira imbabazi, ariko ko atakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi yahamijwe ku rwego rwa mbere. [4] Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza n° RPA 00531/2019/HC/RWG ku wa 01/03/2022, rwemeza ko urubanza rwajuririwe ruhindutse ku bijyanye n’inyito y’icyaha, ko Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste ahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu, aho kuba icyaha cy’ubwicanyi, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000 Frw). [5] Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yajuririye na none urwo rubanza mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, arusaba kumugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko yakoze icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu abitewe n’ubusembure yakorewe na se, ndetse ko atishwe n’inkoni yamukubise mu musaya, ko ahubwo yishwe n’indwara y’umutima n’iy’umuvuduko w’amaraso yari asanzwe arwaye. [6] Me Rugeyo Jean, umwunganira, avuga ko akwiye kumugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko yemera icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu, no kuba ari ubwa mbere akoze icyaha. [7] Urubanza rwaburanishijwe mu ruhame ku wa 04/05/2023, Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yunganiwe na Me Rugeyo Jean, naho Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na Habarurema Jean Pierre, Umushinjacyaha ku rwego rw’Igihugu.
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II. IKIBAZO KIRI MU RUBANZA N’ISESENGURWA RYACYO: Kumenya inyito y’icyaha Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yakoze no kumenya niba yagabanyirizwa igihano [8] Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste na Me Rugeyo Jean, umwunganira, bavuga ko Urukiko Rukuru rwagombaga kumugabanyiriza igihano kubera ko yemeye icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa anagisabira imbabazi kuko nta raporo ya muganga yemeje ko urupfu rwa se witwa Kananura Thicien rukomoka ku nkoni yamubise, ariko rwamuhanishije igihano kiremereye. [9] Asobanura ko yakoze icyaha abitewe n’ubusembure kubera ko se yamukubise inkoni yitwazaga mu bitugu, yikubita hasi, arayimwaka, ayimukubita mu musaya, ajya kwikingiranira mu nzu, uretse ko icyo gihe nta wundi muntu wari uhari, kandi ko inkoni cyangwa ikibando kivugwa kitigeze gifatirwa, ariko ko atahamwa n’icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu, kubera ko se atishwe n’inkoni yamukubise, ko ahubwo yishwe n’indwara y’umutima n’iy’umuvuduko y’amaraso yari asanzwe arwaye, ndetse ko iyo mukase amusabira transfert akimara kumukubita inkoni, yari kujya kwa muganga akavurwa agakira. [10] Bavuga kandi ko hashingiwe ku ngingo ya 49 y’Itegeko no 68/2018 ryo kuwa 30/08/2018 y’Itegeko n° 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, iteganya ko ibyo umucamanza ashingiraho atanga igihano, Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste akwiye kugabanyirizwa igihano kubera ko yemeye icyaha akanagisabira imbabazi, no kuba aribwo bwa mbere agikoze, agahanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka itatu (3) kiri munsi y’igiteganywa n’ingingo ya 121 y’iryo Tegeko hashingiwe ku murongo watanzwe mu rubanza RS/INCOST/SPEC/00003/2019/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 04/12/2019, ndetse ko uru Rukiko rufite ububasha bwo guhindura inyito y’icyaha nk’uko byemejwe mu rubanza nº RS/INJUST/PEN 00004/2017/SC rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 23/02/2018, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Mukaruyange Athanasie, no mu rubanza RPAA 00428/2021/CA rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 17/02/2023, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Irakiza Eric. [11] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko hashingiwe ku murongo watanzwe mu rubanza nº RPAA 0110/10/CS rwaciwe ku wa 31/01/2014, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Uwamurengeye, aho Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwasobanuye ko mu gutandukanya icyaha cy’ubwicanyi n’icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu, mu kumenya niba uwakubise undi ku bushake yari afite umugambi wo kumwica cyangwa niba yari agamije gusa kumukubita cyangwa kumukomeretsa, harebwa icyakoreshejwe (intwaro ishobora kwica) mu kumukubita no ku gice cy’umubiri cyakubiswe (mu cyico), asanga Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yarakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi nk’uko byemejwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare, kubera ko yakubise se witwa Kananura Thicien inkoni y’ikibando (igikoresho gishobora kwica) ahantu hatandukanye akomereka mu mutwe, mu misaya yombi (uw’iburyo n’uw’ibumoso, (mu cyico) kuko hari umutsi witwa nyiramivumbi kandi iyo ukubisweho inkoni, umuntu ahita apfa, anayimukubita mu gatuza, mu nda nk’uko byemejwe n’abatangabuhamya Mukagihana Didacienne, Uwiringiyimana Aphrodis na Bizigura Jean Paul, bikanashimangirwa na raporo y’Inzego z’Ibanze y’Akagari ka Karubungo, ndetse ko kuva icyo gihe, se atongeye kuvuga, ko ahubwo yavuye amaraso, nyuma y’aho yicwa no kubura umwuka nk’uko byemejwe na muganga.
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[12] Avuga kandi ko Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste atagabanyirizwa igihano kubera ubusembure aburanishije kuri uru rwego, mu gihe atigeze abuburanisha ku rwego rwa mbere, ariko ko mu gihe uru Rukiko rubibonye ukundi, rwakwemeza ko atasembuwe kubera ko nta kimenyetso yatanze kigaragaza ko ari se wabanje kumukubita inkoni, ngo nyuma y’aho ayimwake ayimukubite, nyamara ingingo ya 3 y’Itegeko nº 15/2004 ryo ku wa 12/06/2004ryerekeye ibimenyetso mu manza n’itangwa ryabyo, iteganya ko buri muburanyi agomba kugaragaza ukuri kw’ibyo aburana. [13] Avuga na none ko n’ubwo Urukiko ruzemeza ko Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi, rutamwongerera igihano kuko Ubushinjacyaha butigeze bukijuririra, ko ahubwo rukwiye kumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15 yahawe mbere, uretse ko ari gito harebwe uburemere bw’icyaha yakoze cyo kwica umubyeyi we, no kuba hari n’impamvu nkomezacyaha ijyanye n’uko ataribwo bwa mbere yari amukubise nk’uko byemejwe n’abatangabuhamya bose babajijwe bavuzwe haruguru kuko yari asanzwe ari umunyarugomo wagiraga imyitwarire itari myiza, bityo ko akwiye guhanwa kugira ngo yumve ububi bw’icyaha yakoze, no kugira ngo bikorwe mu rwego rwo kurengera umuryango nyarwanda. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [14] Ikibazo kijyanye n’ibishingirwaho mu gutandukanya icyaha cy’ubwicanyi n’icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu, cyatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza nº RPAA 0110/10/CS rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga ku wa 31/01/2014, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Uwamurengeye, aho rwasobanuye ko kugira ngo hamenyekane niba uwakubise undi ku bushake yari afite umugambi wo kumwica cyangwa niba yari agamije gusa kumukubita cyangwa kumukomeretsa, bisuzumirwa mu cyakoreshejwe (intwaro ishobora kwica) mu kumukubita no ku gice cy’umubiri cyakubiswe (mu cyico). [15] Nk’uko bigaragarira mu bika bya 11,12 na 13 cy’urubanza rwajuririwe muri uru Rukiko, Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, rwasobanuye ko Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste akwiye guhamwa n’icyaha cyo gukubita cyangwa gukomeretsa ku bushake byateye urupfu, aho kuba icyaha cy’ubwicanyi yahamijwe n’Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Nyagatare, kubera ko igikorwa yakoze cyo gukubita umubyeyi we Kananura Thicien inkoni mu musaya inshuro nyinshi ku wa 21/04/2019, agapfa ku wa 5/5/2019, hashinze ibyumweru bibiri akubiswe, nk’uko abyivugira kikamuviramo urupfu hashize ibyumweru bibiri (2), kitafatwa nk’ubwicanyi, kuko nta kigaragaza ko igihe yakubitaga se, yari agambiriye kumwica kubera ko nta kigaragaza ko yabonye umwanya wo kubitekerezaho kuko nk’uko abyivugira ari se washatse kumukubita, undi nawe agahita amwaka inkoni akayimukubitisha, ndetse iyo aza kugira umugambi wo kumwica, yari kuba yarahise amwica kuko nta kigaragaza ko hari icya mukomye mu nkokora, kikamubuza kuwugeraho, no kuba inkoni yamukubise mu mutwe itaragaragarijwe imiterere yayo, itafatwa nk’intwaro yica. [16] Ku birebana n’uru rubanza, inyandikomvugo ziri muri dosiye zigaragaza ko mu Bugenzacyaha no mu Bushinjacyaha, Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yemeye icyaha anagisabira imbabazi, asobanura ko se yasohokanye inkoni, ayimukubita mu bitugu yikubita hasi, ko yayimwatse ayimukubita mu musaya w’iburyo n’uw’ibumoso ku wa 21/04/2019, arwara iby’umweru bibiri, apfa ku wa 05/05/2019, ndetse ko ari ubwa kabiri yari amukubise.
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[17] Hari kandi Mukagihana Didacienne watanze ikirego mu Bugenzacyaha arega umuhungu we Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste ko ku wa 21/04/2019, yakubise se ikibando mu mutwe, mu mugongo, mu gatuza, mu mbavu, akajya aruka amaraso, ndetse ko kuva icyo gihe atongeye kuvuga kugeza apfuye ku wa 05/05/2019. [18] Na none abatangabuhamya Uwiringiyimana Aphrodise na Bizigura Jean Paul basobanuye mu Bugenzacyaha ko ku wa 21/04/2019, ko Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yakubise se Kananura Thicien w’imyaka 62 y’amavuko, inkoni mu musaya arakomereka no mu gatuza harabyimba hombi, ko kandi kuva icyo gihe se atongeye kuvuga kugeza apfuye ku wa 05/05/2019, ndetse ko atari ubwa mbere Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yari amukubise. [19] Raporo ya muganga yo ku wa 07/05/2019 igaragaza ko Kananura Thicien ashobora kuba yarishwe n’uko yahumekaga nabi bigatuma abura umwuka (Respiratory failure probabl). [20] Hari kandi raporo y'Inzego z'ibanze yo ku wa 06/05/2019 ivuga ko Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yashyamiranye na se Kananura Thicien bapfa amafaranga magana atanu (500 Frw) se yari amurimo yanze kumwishyura, undi ahita amukubita ikibando mu mutwe no munda. [21] Urukiko rusanga, kuba Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yarafashe inkoni y’ikibando (igikoresho gishobora kwica bitewe n’aho yakubiswe) akayikubita se Kananura Thicien inshuro nyinshi ahantu hatandukanye ku mubiri we harimo mu misaya yombi (mu cyico) no mu gatuza, hakabyimba, mu nda, mu mbavu no mu mugongo, bigatuma aruka amaraso, kandi kuva amukubise iyo nkoni ku wa 21/04/2019, akaba yararembye anarukaga amaraso ku buryo atongeye kuvuga kugeza apfuye ku wa 05/05/2019 nk’uko abyiyemerera bikanashimangirwa n’imvugo z’abatangabuhamya bavuzwe haruguru, ndetse na raporo ya muganga yo ku wa 07/05/2019 igaragaza ko Kananura Thicien yishwe n’uko yahumekaga nabi bigatuma abura umwuka (Respiratory failure probabl), ari ibimenyetso bihagije bigaragaza ko yakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi nk’uko byemejwe ku rwego rwa mbere, aho kuba icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu nk’uko byemejwe n’Urukiko Rukuru. [22] Ibisobanuwe mu gika kibanziriza iki, bihuje kandi n’ibyemejwe mu rubanza nº RPAA 00455/2021/CA rwaciwe n’uru Rukiko ku wa 18/11/2022, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Ndagijimana, aho mu gika cyarwo cya 20, rwasobanuye ko kuba Ndagijimana yarakubise Uwihoreye inkoni (nubwo avuga ko yari asanzwe ayitwara kubera akazi k’ubushumba akora), mu mbavu ahagana ku mutima (mu cyico), akoresheje imbaraga zihagije zatumye Uwihoreye ahita apfa, bigaragaza ko Ndagijimana yakoze icyaha cy’ubwicanyi, aho kuba icyaha cyo gukubita no gukomeretsa byateye urupfu. [23] Urukiko rusanga Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste atagabanyirizwa igihano hashingiwe ku busembure kuko nta kimenyetso abutangira. [24] Urukiko rusanga, kuba Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yaragombaga guhanishwa igifungo cya burundu giteganyirijwe icyaha cy’ubwicanyi yakoze nk’uko byasobanuwe haruguru, ariko Urukiko Rukuru rukaba rwaribeshye ku nyito y’icyaha bituma rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000 Frw), bityo iki gihano kikaba kigomba kugumaho kuko Ubushinjacyaha butakijuririye, no kubera uburemere
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bw’icyaha cy’ubwicanyi yakoreye umubyeyi we n’ingaruka cyateje mu muryango wa se, mu muryango wabo, ndetse no mu muryango nyarwanda muri rusange. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [25] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste nta shingiro bufite; [26] Ruvuze ko imikirize y’urubanza n° RPA 00531/2019/HC/RWG rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Rwamagana, ku wa 01/03/2022, idahindutse, bityo igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15) n’ihazabu ya miliyoni eshanu (5.000.000 Frw) Murwanashyaka Siniri Théoneste yahanishijwe kigumyeho; [27] Rutegetse ko amagarama y’uru rubanza aherera ku Isanduku ya Leta.