UBUSHINJACYAHA v NSANZIMANA

UBUSHINJACYAHA v NSANZIMANA

The court held that only grounds of appeal submitted within the statutory period, or those clarifying or supplementing such grounds, are admissible. The court further held that the official birth certificate is the authoritative evidence for determining the victim's age, and since it showed the victim was a minor at...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RPAA 00166/2024/CA
Parties
Prosecution: Ubushinjacyaha; Appellant: Nsanzimana Barthelemy
Court
Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
30 October 2025
Case Number
RPAA 00166/2024/CA
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Appeal Procedure, Sexual Offences Against Minors, Evidentiary Standards, Age Determination in Criminal Liability
Source Language
rw
Criminal Law Appeal Procedure Sexual Offences Against Minors Evidentiary Standards Age Determination in Criminal Liability

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Parties

Ubushinjacyaha

Prosecution

Nsanzimana Barthelemy

Appellant

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Final Appellate Judgment

  1. 1 Whether grounds of appeal submitted after the statutory period should be admitted
  2. 2 Whether the victim was a minor at the time of the offence

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that only grounds of appeal submitted within the statutory period, or those clarifying or supplementing such grounds, are admissible. The court further held that the official birth certificate is the authoritative evidence for determining the victim's age, and since it showed the victim was a minor at the time of the offence, the conviction for defilement stands.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The judgment of the High Court (RPA 00308/2021/HC/RSZ) is affirmed as to sentence.
  • The 15-year imprisonment for defilement imposed on Nsanzimana Barthelemy remains in force.