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Rwanda decisions
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The Court of Appeal held that a guilty plea only mitigates sentence if made before the close of first-instance trial, but reduced the sentence for first-time offender status.
Court of Appeal held that MRCD-FLN leaders were liable for committing acts of terrorism, rejected an irregular armed group claim, and addressed sentencing and damages.
The Supreme Court upheld convictions for complicity in murder, holding that a retracted confession may still be assessed for sincerity and that cruelty barred penalty reduction.
The Supreme Court upheld Niyonsaba Boniface’s life sentence for murder, finding his late guilty plea insincere and the killing exceptionally cruel.
There was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt that Cecile Dukuzeyezu was present at the crime scene or participated in the attempted murder; contradictory and unreliable witness testimony created doubt, which must favor the accused. Deny Murinda's guilty plea was unequivocal and thus constituted a mitigating circumstance, justifying a reduction in his sentence. The damages awarded to Vital Kalisa were appropriate given the gravity and consequences of the crime.
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The Supreme Court held that a late guilty plea did not bar penalty reduction where the offender was young and a first-time offender, reducing the sentence to 7 years.
The High Court upheld a 6-year sentence and fine for genocide ideology, holding that a guilty plea did not justify reduction because the appellant was a recidivist.
The Supreme Court of Rwanda held that a minor’s sentence reduction does not bar a separate reduction for a sincere guilty plea, and reduced the sentence to seven years.
The Supreme Court dismissed a parricide appeal, holding that a guilty plea does not automatically require penalty reduction because the court retains discretion.
The court held that despite the guilty plea, the circumstances and wickedness of the offence, including premeditation and brutality, render Ntakiyimana unworthy of penalty reduction. Judicial discretion permits denial of reduction even after a guilty plea.
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