The Court of Appeal upheld Karenzo’s conviction for defilement of an 11-year-old child, found the evidence reliable, and reduced the sentence from 25 to 15 years.
The Court of Appeal quashed Bizimana Aloys’s conviction for defilement, finding the evidence inconsistent and insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The conviction was upheld because the evidence from the accused's own statements, the victim's mother, an eyewitness, and the medical report collectively established beyond reasonable doubt that Nshimiyimana Jacques committed the offence of defilement. The court found the defence arguments unconvincing and the evidence consistent with the legal definition of the crime. However, the sentence was reduced to 18 years' imprisonment due to mitigating factors, including it being the accused's first offence and his young age at the time.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the accused’s appeal, upheld his conviction for drug possession, and held that related witnesses’ testimony may be relied on if assessed by the court.
The Court of Appeal found that the testimonies of the victim and witness were consistent and corroborated by the medical report, which showed physical signs of sexual assault. The defense’s alternative explanations were unsupported and contradicted by the evidence. The court held that the conviction was based on reliable, corroborated evidence and that the sentence imposed was appropriate given the gravity of the offence.
The Court of Appeal dismissed Ndwaniye Damascène’s challenge to his 15-year sentence for defilement of a minor, holding the conviction was supported by evidence.
The appeal was dismissed because the evidence from the victim, her mother, grandmother, and the medical report was consistent and sufficient to prove defilement beyond reasonable doubt. No credible evidence of family disputes or fabrication was presented. However, the sentence was reduced due to mitigating factors: the accused was a first-time offender and was 18 at the time of the offence.
The Court of Appeal upheld Mugabo Faustin’s conviction for defilement, but reduced his sentence from life imprisonment to 14 years for proportionality.