UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NDAHAYO
Because Ndahayo Jean’s life sentence had already been reduced to the minimum lawful sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment on account of his admission of guilt, there was no legal basis for a further reduction; the appeal was therefore unfounded.
Source-derived case information.
- Parties
- Appellant/respondent: UBUSHINJACYAHA; Respondent/appellant: NDAHAYO Jean
- Jurisdiction
- Rwanda
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Appeal Judgment
- Outcome
- Appeal dismissed as unfounded; prior judgment upheld.
- Legal Topics
- Sentencing, Mitigation, Life Imprisonment Reduction, Admission of Guilt, Appeal
- Source Language
- rw
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
UBUSHINJACYAHA
Appellant/respondent
NDAHAYO Jean
Respondent/appellant
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment imposed after mitigation can be further reduced on appeal.
- 2 Whether a life sentence may be reduced below 15 years where mitigating circumstances have been established.
Ratio Decidendi
Because Ndahayo Jean’s life sentence had already been reduced to the minimum lawful sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment on account of his admission of guilt, there was no legal basis for a further reduction; the appeal was therefore unfounded.
Court Disposition
Appeal dismissed as unfounded; prior judgment upheld.
Orders
- The appeal by Ndahayo Jean is dismissed.
- The judgment in RPA 00469/2021/HC/NYZ of 13/03/2025 is affirmed.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
4 paragraphs
UBUSHINJACYAHA v. NDAHAYO [Rwanda URUKIKO RW’UBUJURIRE – RPAA 00324/2025/CA (Ndahayo, P.J.) 27 Ugushyingo 2025] Amategeko agenga imiburanishirize y’imanza z’inshinjabyaha – Kugabanya igihano – Igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu – Iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’umucamanza igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). Incamake y’ikibazo: Ndahayo na bagenzi be bakurikiranyweho n’Ubushinjacyaha icyaha cyo kwica uwitwa Mukamusoni Alexia bamukubise ibuye mu nutwe arapfa; nyuma y’iperereza Ubushinjacyaha bubaregera Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga busaba ko cyabahama, bagafungwa burundu. Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko Ndahayo ahamwa n’icyaha rubahanisha igifungo cya burundu. Ndahayo yajuririye mu Rukiko Rukuru, Urugereko rwa Nyanza asaba kugabanyirizwa igihano kuko yaburanye yemera icyaha ariko akaba ataragabanyirijwe. Urwo Rukiko rwaciye urubanza rwemeza ko ubujurire bwe bufite ishingiro, rumuganyiriza igihano aho yahanishijwe igifungo cy’imyaka 15. Ndahayo nyuma yo kutishimira imikirize y’urubanza, yongeye kujuririra mu Rukiko rw’Ubujurire asaba kugirirwa imbabazi, akongera kugabanyirizwa igihano, ashingiye ku mpamvu zirimo kuba yemera icyaha agasaba imbabazi no kuba ari bwo bwa mbere akurikiranywe mu nzego z’ubutabera, kandi ko imyaka itanu amaze afunze yicuza icyaha yakoze. Ku rundi ruhande Ubushinjacyaha buvuga ko uregwa atakongera kugabanyirizwa igihano, kuko icyo yahanishijwe aricyo gito giteganywa n’amategeko. Incamake y’icyemezo: Iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’umucamanza igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). Ubujurire nta shingiro bufite. Nta mategeko yashingiweho. Imanza zifashishijwe: RPAA 00076/2024/CA; Ubushinjacyaha vs Burindwi Jean Bosco rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 20/01/2025. Urubanza
I. IMITERERE Y’URUBANZA [1] Mu ijoro ryo ku wa 29-30/06/2020 mu mudugudu wa Gasiza akagari ka Kamusenyi mu murenge wa Byimana mu Karere ka Ruhango, Ndayaho Jean, yaketsweho kuba yarafatanyije n’abandi bakica uwitwa Mukamusoni Alexia bamunize bakanamukubita ibuye mu mutwe. Nyuma y’iperereza Ndahayo Jean na bagenzi be baregewe Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga bakurikiranweho icyaha cy’ubwicanyi buturutse ku bushake, basabirwa ko cyabahama bagafungwa burundu. [2] Ndahayo Jean yaburanye yemera icyaha aregwa maze mu rubanza RP 00682/2020/TGI/MHG rwaciwe ku wa 21/04/2021, Urukiko Rwisumbuye rwa Muhanga rushingiye ku kuba Ndahayo Jean yaremeye icyaha ndetse n’imvugo z’abatangabuhamya bamushinje rwemeza ko ahamwa n’icyaha cy’ubwicanyi n’icyaha cy’ubufatanyacyaha mu cyaha cy’ubwicanyi, rutegeka ko ahanishwa igifungo cya burundu. [3] Ndahayo Jean yajuriye mu Rukiko Rukuru Urugereko rwa Nyanza, avuga ko icyo anenga imikirize y’urubanza yajuririye ari uko yaburanye asaba kugabanyirizwa ibihano kuko yemera icyaha ntabigabanyirizwe. [4] Uhagarariye Ubushinjacyaha we yavuze ko imikirize y’urubanza idakwiye guhinduka kuko nta nenge ifite, kuko Urukiko rudategetswe kugabanya igihano igihe cyose rubonye ko hari impamvu nyoroshya cyaha. [5] Mu rubanza RPA 00469/2021/HC/NYZ rwaciwe ku wa 13/03/2025, Urukiko Rukuru Urugereko rwa Nyanza rwasobanuye ko ntacyarubuza kugabanya igihano cyahanishijwe Ndahayo Jean mu rubanza rwajuririwe kubera ko yemera icyaha, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka 15. [6] Ndahayo Jean yongeye kujurira muri uru Rukiko rw’Ubujurire, urubanza rwandikwa kuri RPAA 00324/2025/CA ruburanishwa ku wa 01/12/2025, Ndahayo Jean yunganiwe na Me Ngirimana Jean Pierre, Ubushinjacyaha buhagarariwe na PN Ntawangundi Beatrice. [7] Mu myanzuro ya Ndahayo Jean na Me Ngirimana Jean Pierre umwunganira, bavuga yongeye kujuririra Urukiko rw’ubujurire kugira ngo rumugirire imbabazi nk’umuntu utarigeze arushya inzego z’ubutabera, ruce inkoni izamba rwongere rumugabanyirize igihano hashingiwe ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha yo kwemera icyaha agasaba imbabazi no kuba ari bwo bwa mbere akurikiranywe mu nzego z’ubutabera, kandi ko imyaka itanu amaze afunze yicuza icyaha yakoze. [8] Uburanira Ubushinjacyaha asaba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kwemeza ko impamvu z’ubujurire za Ndahayo Jean nta shingiro zifite kuko yahanishijwe igihano gito itegeko riteganya. [9] Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ruhereye kuri izi mpaka, rusanga ikibazo kigomba gusuzumwa ari ukumenya niba igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 Ndahayo Jean yahanishijwe mu rubanza yajuririye gishobora kubanywa. II. IKIBAZO KIGIZE URUBANZA N’ISESENGURA RYACYO
Kumenya niba igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 Ndahayo Jean yahanishijwe mu rubanza yajuririye gishobora kubanywa [10] Ndahayo Jean na Me Ngirimana Jean Pierre umwunganira, bavuga ko Ndahayo Jean yemeye icyaha kandi agasobanura uko yagikoze anagisabira imbabazi kuva agifatwa mu nzego z’iperereza, no mu kuburana mu nkiko zabanje ariko akaba ataragabanyirijwe igihano nk’uko yabisabaga. Akaba ariyo mpamvu yongeye kujuririra Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kugira ngo rumugirire imbabazi nk’umuntu utarigeze arushya inzego z’ubutabera, ruce inkoni izamba, rwongere rumugabanyirize, kuko imyaka itanu amaze afunze yicuza icyaha yakoze. [11] Bakomeza basaba Urukiko rw’Ubujurire kuzashingira ku biteganywa mu ngingo za 58 na 59, agace ka 3 z’itegeko No 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/8/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, no ku ngingo ya 2 y’Itegeko nº 059/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, rukemeza ko hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha yagaragaje maze rukamugabanyiriza igihano nk’uko abisaba. [12] Uburanira Ubushinjacyaha avuga ko impamvu z’ ubujurire za Ndahayo Jean nta shingiro zifite, kuko ibyo asaba yamaze kubihabwa n’Urukiko Rukuru Urugereko rwa Nyanza, kuko yahanishijwe igihano gito gishoboka giteganywa n’itegeko cy’imyaka 15 aho kuba igifungo cya burundu giteganyirizwa icyaha cy’ubwicanyi yakoze. Avuga rero ko asanga nta makosa cyangwa inenge agaragaza yaba yarakozwe mu rubanza ajuririra. [13] Akomeza avuga ko hashingirwa ku ngingo ya 2 y’Itegeko Nº 59/2023 ryo ku wa 04/12/2023 rihindura Itegeko Nº 68/2018 ryo ku wa 30/08/2018 riteganya ibyaha n’ibihano muri rusange, iteganya ko iyo umucamanza yemeje impamvu nyoroshyacyaha, igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15. UKO URUKIKO RUBIBONA [14] Impaka muri iki kibazo zishingiye ku kumenya niba igihano cy’igifungo cy’imyaka 15 Ndahayo Jean yahanishijwe mu rubanza yajuririye gishobora kubanywa [15] Mu gusesengura iki kibazo hakwifashishwa umurongo watanzwe mu rubanza RPAA 00076/2024/CA, rwaciwe n’Urukiko rw’Ubujurire ku wa 20/01/2025, haburana Ubushinjacyaha na Burindwi Jean Bosco (igika cya 18), aho Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rwasobanuye ko iyo hari impamvu nyoroshyacyaha zemejwe n’umucamanza igihano cy’igifungo cya burundu gishobora kugabanywa ariko ntikijye munsi y’igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15). [16] Dosiye igaragaza ko Ndahayo Jean yaburanye yemera icyaha mu Rukiko Rukuru Urugereko rwa Nyanza, narwo rushingira ku mpamvu nyoroshyacyaha yo kuba yaremeye icyaha, rumuhanisha igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15 ans). [17] Uru rukiko rurasanga kuba Ndahayo Jean n’umwunganira barajuriye bavuga ko basaba ko yongera kugabanyirizwa ibihano kubera impamvu nyoroshyacyaha y’uko yaraburanye yemera icyaha agasaba imbabazi, no kuba atararuhije ubutabera kandi ari ubwa mbere akurikiranwe n’inkiko, nta shingiro bifite kuko igihano yahawe aricyo gihano gito gishoboka, kikaba
kidashobora kongera kugabanywa nk’uko byatanzweho umurongo mu rubanza RPAA 00076/2024/CA rwavuzwe haruguru. [18] Hashingiwe rero ku bimanze gusobanurwa haruguru, uru Rukiko rurasanga ubujurire bwatanzwe na Ndahayo Jean nta shingiro bufite, bityo imikirize y’urubanza rwajuririwe ikaba itagomba guhinduka. III. ICYEMEZO CY’URUKIKO [19] Rwemeje ko ubujurire bwa Ndahayo Jean nta shingiro bufite; [20] Rwemeje ko imikirize y’urubanza RPA 00469/2021/HC/NYZ rwaciwe n’Urukiko Rukuru Urugereko rwa Nyanza ku wa 13/03/2025, idahindutse; [21] Rutegetse ko Ndahayo Jean akomeza guhanishwa igifungo cy’imyaka cumi n’itanu (15).