20061110 TZHC Moshi

20061110 TZHC Moshi

The trial court's failure to comply with mandatory procedural requirements under section 192(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1985 and to conduct a voir dire test for the child witness under section 127(2) of the Evidence Act, 1967 was fatal to the prosecution's case, rendering the conviction unsafe.

Source-derived case information.

Citation
20061110 TZHC Moshi
Parties
Appellant: Bernardin Godfrey Massawe; Respondent: The Republic
Court
TZHC
Jurisdiction
Tanzania
Judgment Date
10 November 2006
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal
Outcome
appeal allowed
Legal Topics
Rape, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Child Witness, Voir Dire, Appeal
Source Language
english
Criminal Law Rape Criminal Procedure Evidence Child Witness Voir Dire Appeal

Source-derived case record

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Parties

Bernardin Godfrey Massawe

Appellant

The Republic

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Judgment on Appeal

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the trial court complied with mandatory procedural requirements under section 192(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1985
  2. 2 Whether the trial court conducted a voir dire test before recording evidence of a child witness as required by section 127(2) of the Evidence Act, 1967

Ratio Decidendi

The trial court's failure to comply with mandatory procedural requirements under section 192(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1985 and to conduct a voir dire test for the child witness under section 127(2) of the Evidence Act, 1967 was fatal to the prosecution's case, rendering the conviction unsafe.

Court Disposition

appeal allowed

Orders

  • conviction quashed
  • sentence set aside