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Rwanda decisions
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Urukiko rw’Ubujurire rwemeje ko igihano cya 15 years cyari gito giteganywa n’amategeko nyuma yo kugabanyirizwa igifungo cya burundu, bityo ubujurire bwa Ndahayo nta shingiro bufite.
The appellant's admission of guilt was already considered by the High Court in reducing the sentence from life imprisonment to 25 years. No credible evidence of provocation was presented, and the issue was not raised at trial, making it inadmissible on appeal. The High Court did not err in its sentencing discretion, and no further mitigation was warranted.
Source excerpt
Micomyiza Christophe's admission of guilt was considered and resulted in mitigation from life imprisonment to 25 years. No credible evidence of provocation was presented at trial, and new grounds raised on appeal regarding provocation cannot be considered. The sentence imposed by the High Court was appropriate given the brutality of the crime and the circumstances.
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal held that first-time admission of guilt on appeal does not justify further sentence reduction where the lower courts already mitigated the penalty.
The appellant's admission of guilt was neither timely nor unequivocal, and the crime was committed with extreme cruelty, so mitigation of sentence is not warranted under Rwandan law. The original sentence of life imprisonment stands.
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal varied the sentence only, reducing Mbarushimana Isaac’s punishment for defilement of a child from life imprisonment to 17 years.
The Court of Appeal reduced a sentence for attempted murder, but refused mitigation based on a first-time guilty plea made only on appeal.
The defendant is guilty of attempted murder based on his own admissions and corroborating evidence; mitigation of sentence is granted due to first-time offense and minor consequences, not due to admission of guilt at appellate stage.
Source excerpt
The court found that Harerimana Edouard intentionally attempted to kill his wife by striking her on the head with a hoe, causing a 90% disability, and then fleeing the scene. The act constituted attempted murder, not mere assault. However, as this was his first offense, the sentence was reduced from 25 years to 12 years and 6 months imprisonment.
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal reduced Mizero Eric’s sentence for defilement from 20 years to 10 years, relying on mitigating factors including his age and first-offender status.
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