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Rwanda decisions
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The Court of Appeal held that Dushimimana Blaise proved a traceable title to the disputed land parcel, while Ufitingabire Béatrice did not link her claim to the specific parcel.
The use of a lethal weapon (knife) to stab the victim in the chest constitutes intentional homicide under Rwandan law. The mitigating factors presented do not warrant further reduction of the sentence, as the gravity of the offense and the circumstances justify the 25-year imprisonment imposed by the lower court.
Source excerpt
The appellate court found that, although the grounds of appeal were not upheld, the sentence should be further reduced due to the appellant's youth (23 years old at the time of the offence), first-time offender status, and comparative sentencing in similar cases. The court imposed 18 years imprisonment and a fine of 10,000,000 Frw, rejecting the request to waive the fine due to the mandatory nature of the penalty under the law.
Source excerpt
The facts established that Dushimimana Emmanuel intentionally killed his father by striking him in the head with an axe, justifying recharacterization of the offence as murder. However, since the prosecution did not appeal the sentence, the penalty imposed for causing death by assault remains. Mitigating circumstances presented did not warrant a reduction of sentence due to the gravity and brutality of the crime.
Source excerpt
Acceptance of guilt at the appellate stage does not qualify as a mitigating factor under the law; however, the appellant's youth and lack of prior convictions justify a reduction of sentence, balanced against the gravity and fatal consequences of the offence. The sentence is reduced accordingly under the more lenient law now in force.
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal upheld Niyonkuru Patrick’s conviction for defilement of a 13-year-old minor, but reduced his sentence from 20 to 15 years.
The Court of Appeal held that Iradukunda Diane’s sentence for cannabis trafficking could not be further reduced because it had already reached the legal minimum after mitigation.
The Court of Appeal upheld an 18-year prison sentence and 5,000,000 RWF fine for drug trafficking, finding no error by the lower court to justify further reduction.
The Court of Appeal upheld a 15-year prison sentence for cannabis trafficking but further reduced the fine to RWF 5,000,000.
The Court of Appeal held that Kamana Faustin was already sufficiently sentenced for cannabis trafficking and dismissed his appeal for further reduction.
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