Search judgments by proposition, citation, court, judge or legal topic, then move directly into the source-grounded case analysis.
Results update automatically as you type.
Rwanda decisions
Decisions matching the current search
The Court of Appeal held that service by publication in the earlier default case was not proved, granted retrial, and dismissed the claimant’s ownership claim.
The court held that the defendant was provided legal representation in accordance with the law, was not tried twice for the same offence as the Gacaca judgment was set aside before trial, and that prosecution for international crimes was lawful under both international and domestic law, regardless of the date of enactment. The court found the evidence, including testimony from convicted persons and hearsay, was lawfully admitted and corroborated. Convictions for both genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide, and for genocide and extermination as crimes against humanity, were upheld as the o…
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal upheld Murekeyisoni Joséphine’s drug-trafficking conviction, holding that her investigation-stage confession remained probative despite later retraction.
The Court of Appeal dismissed appeals by three appellants and upheld genocide convictions, holding that corroborated testimony was reliable despite minor inconsistencies and absent Gacaca mention.
The appellate court found that minor inconsistencies in witness testimony regarding times, clothing, or precise locations did not undermine the core finding that Ntaganzwa Ladislas orchestrated, led, and participated in attacks against Tutsi civilians at Cyahinda and surrounding areas, and facilitated sexual violence, as corroborated by multiple witnesses and his own official correspondence. The court held that the trial court was entitled to rely on the testimony of a single credible witness for material facts and that the accused's alibi was not supported by credible evidence. The court fur…
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal dismissed Ntirenganya Ratifa’s appeal, upholding his conviction for trafficking cannabis and the 15-year prison term and fine.
The Court of Appeal dismissed Bank of Kigali Plc’s appeal, holding the bank failed to prove an outstanding debt and upheld the finding that the loan had been repaid.
The Court of Appeal established that in criminal cases, especially defilement of minors, no excuse or justification can exonerate the accused; strict liability applies. In contract and commercial matters, failure to meet contractual deadlines without valid reason constitutes breach, entitling the other party to terminate and claim damages. In appeals, procedural compliance is mandatory, and mitigation of sentence is strictly limited to confessions made before closure of first instance proceedings. Evidence, including hearsay and testimony from minors, is admissible if corroborated. In drug ca…
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal upheld a defilement conviction, holding that a police confession remained reliable when corroborated by witness statements and medical evidence.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appellants’ challenge, held the evidence proved joint participation in the killing, and changed the offense label to murder while keeping the prison term.
Explore more
