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
A guilty plea entered for the first time at the second appellate level does not justify sentence reduction, but the court may reduce the fine based on other mitigating circumstances, such as being a first-time offender.
Source excerpt
The defendant's admission of guilt in appeal is untimely and does not qualify as a mitigating circumstance under Article 59 of Law No 68/2018. However, as a first-time offender found with a small quantity of drugs, valid mitigating circumstances exist. Pursuant to Article 2(a) and (d) of Law No 059/2023, the sentence is reduced to 16 years imprisonment and a fine of 5,000,000 RWF, aligning with proportionality and precedent.
Source excerpt
The Court held that the guilty pleas were neither unequivocal nor timely, and appellants had already received reduced sentences based on mitigating circumstances. Further reduction was not warranted under the law, and statutory fines must remain.
Source excerpt
Karenzo Eric could not receive a further reduction in sentence for admitting guilt because he did not admit to murder at the High Court, but as a first-time offender, the sentence was reduced to 15 years under the applicable law.
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal dismissed Muvunyi Claude alias Ntambara’s appeal, holding that his late admission of guilt did not justify sentence reduction.
The Court of Appeal established binding principles on the scope of appeals, intervention, finality of certain decisions, procedural requirements for auctions and employment termination, mitigation of criminal sentences, evidentiary standards for confessions and witness testimony, differentiation between drug possession and trafficking, and the requirements for valid land registration and contract annulment.
Source excerpt
The Supreme Court held that a guilty plea entered on appeal could still justify sentence reduction, and reduced Innocent Mbuguje’s sentence for child defilement.
The Supreme Court held that despite Ntakiyimana's eventual admission of guilt, the gravity and premeditation of the crime, as well as his initial denial, justified denying further sentence reduction.
Source excerpt
The Supreme Court reduced a defilement sentence from life imprisonment to 20 years after the appellant admitted guilt, apologised, and sought mitigation.
Explore more
