19920806 TZHC Tabora

CRIML.JLL SE83IONS ~-'.SE No• 24 OF 1989 Tl?E 1GFU.3LIC .VeJ:SUS 1. LillJlJ.f"tJlJ.. NGOBO 2 • JISD-TZA 11,'.iISOBI LJJ_DGEMENT 73cfore the High Cour·t sj_-'i;ting a.t Nzeea were ( 1 ) LUNJ~JLil. NGOBO -2- JIS.u.TZ!. t.ITS0BI,faci11::· a serious charge of murder c/s 196 of the Pena,l Coe.le Ca1~.., 16 of "lihe Laws·- iJ.; bein,; alleged, that the two accused persons,-did joilrUy unC:. toge·lihor 1 in Ubv.tu villa;_;,;e 1 :Cgw1ga .District, Tabora ?.et,rion, wi·th malice· do.re tho~:1.gb.J.;, on the 29/2/198D, clid kill one ICTJL:-TA J/0 ti..CITL~. The trial ·tll<l:t follo1-1ed on heels the preliminary hearing -'i;hci,t wz,s attracted by · the a.CCi.'.sed I s pleas of no-'G guilt~ cv.lm::.::..a·ted in the Gentlemen .'.ssesso:rs tl.tlal1imoi..1.Sl;;r opining ·tha;!i the accnsed had 110-li i)ee;,1 proved .~1ty beyond. reasona1Jle doub·~, as tJ.ie area of identi:fica.tion,left a lot to :je desired. :.r1ie· fa.c·ts of tlJ..i.s casC. follows. The deceased KUL:'i.t. ]/0 11.\CEI/i. was an olc.l uoman mar:rie,l 'l;o, or by n1.2 N/JIDJJ:~ S1J.Di.. , al'll:.l the ma:rr:i.ag~ was bes·iioued ,·dth chilcl.ron 1 n;.1 SI.IDA :tii,"BUl,l.1. w.as · 0110·· ·of their children. ·:,:the. said IC'ul,:7.£~ D/0 tJ.1.CfilA was infamously suspected of 1:>e:i.ng a ·wi toh ~~to.r. :i:1?-e • • • : • • • • • • l •,: • : • J firs-'.; acm.1.£Jed., LT...'1VJ!(j1.:". EGO:J~ ,. was a n.eighbour of j,>;·i. 2 ·i'ii\H.0111.. , and. a b1•0-'.;her - ·' in- lau of the 2nd accusccl 7 -~he latter __ having _marI"~ed. the first accnsecl• s sis·iier. The. 2nd aocP.secl ·boo, was· a n_eighbotlf, t~~:~1 li vinz n.bout ol1e · mile; f~om the ~.1ome of i?11. 2 lil'.::IO:i.;..,\ 3}.D)A. The 1st aQc1:..:3ed LUN/JJ'1JL!.: lJ'IDDO· ~)..: .cl 1 recently lost a clri.1:l 1 a..1'i-:l ·s-...:.&'?ec~·~d to 11?-v~ ~pc.l of iiitch craft, -i;ho·..1,e:~. no·l; lou.C:ly. . '. On the ~veninz of . . to see a neighbotlI' Ki...DLUSI-IA, leaving behind at home, his wife ICTJL:TA D/0 Ilf!..CBL~ . in the oor.1pany of P1i',. l., _S/.I.Dll. 1,U..BUL.t., tlle la-'.;ter with instruct':ions ·oo mil::: cows, . . As i·i; Has registerin~ a.hol'\."~ 7.30 p.m. or so 1 an-invadi11g gang of two hu.ttiedly oame from bebiru'L fJ.e house 1 confrontec1. r:1.1 s. .~DA 11'.1..t~BULA and o.:i.idered him -~o stop, _·_cµul viciously c.dminist·ered pange; · {,lows upon ICT}L'.i/., D /o H."..cr!I'Ili. ' . ./f ,_i - 2 ~'l.Cl rlisn.ppearecl. }CT:i't:'i!. :r.:;_:)fL\ died ne::d; da.y, ,?11Cl acoor:1ing to the Pos·i:; Lor·GGi:!1 . .::,:arri:inat~coi . . :report, sl1e died of :'.levere p:i:-j_n:2J~Y haemorrhage, f1"0m seVel'.a.l qti.t 1-10,'11cls. ..::.r:d ns the. i:or.d; Hor·hem ·-::a.mL.12-tion 1•epor-c :z:hibi t A &l)eal:s for iJliself 1 twelve cti.'.; 1-101)11:ls, t:wo , ,;,.1,1..m•i fractures and lc::,ce:ratecl Homx.lr:J, life we,,s 1~evc:;:- nee...'1.t tc ·1:;o c;iven a cJ.211ce, aµr:l. cleo.t'.:1 :1as s1..1.:re to 01.lL:d.112/tie unc1.el~ ·'.;:.,,e ciJ~ci..lIM.:rGances. I e..m sntisfied, em- ljJ;:e tl:.e t;)1e Gentlemen !..ssesso:r;s, finc1- 1 1;:..i_at KOL:..:'.. r-:,.~:.}TI!.. cl.ied, a death of violence. 1 :~hc c_[iw:::tion ·:;}:.[di :1/:l.s, a.'1.Cl is provoldng a1.1swc.1·s Wtt.S and is who i'lc:.S respc.-:.1r.:i.~::l,3,or ~1::.0 -c~id :.)Gl');1e·0rate this cruel dee:iih. ~c he 1 prosecnt:.on alive to 1 o..r.iel a1-1n.:.'o, of ·tn.is e;,v.e:r:.·y called. two wit..11.ess p:r.1 and ru.2 to est2)Jlis1J.,(1) vis1..1..2,l :i.c":.erri;ification of ·i?.10 perpetrators of the offence - and (2) ·:;he , co:;,me0-t:i.on of the aceu.sec: pc:.,sons with tb.e crime 7Jj7 ·i;!1e dying decla:r·nt:i.0110 r:T.1, I'U.2 ;::;,:~.l :i."':-T.3. Undeniably, the indc1-ent tool::: place a·:;, 02~ t~tcr tb.1"0L1.(·;> 7.30 p .. n!. D.l".Cl whet~.eI' :.·:;.1 Sf.ID.:". 1-ii:'..BUI.,A 1;1J:1d F:-i.2 :~ii.HOHL S;UD/~ on one lnn·:.., or 1 t:1c '.°1.ocec.sed KvL:t\ lL..C:IU,, on Ji;he otller b.£-.nc.l,saw a,;.1d v].sn.:,.lly ido::r~H'ied. J.;~1.e aJti·:;aci;:ers, ·1;he prevo.:Lli:r!:~' cil·cL1.mst;;,nces for iclcnti::ica:tion purposes, we:,:e ·:;he sru.110 - 11-"i2;}i:t; cor..di tio-ns. I do not he.ve to, aver - emphasize, the iupor·~ance of iden·:;;i_:::'icz.tion in this co..fJe, as the issue does shout for att.en-tiion in -:;:1e reHos on, gre~t cr.,re l:.r.;s ·t;o °Ge ta.k:::n, in t:7:e 3,:3;5ef!sn1ci1t of ,t;he s&:;e. In the cc.se o:? r } ..:'.~.J:'.11_{~/;~~I-"Y:s.•• _rgp~,[;:_3.LI..9_U.2.§9.l.J_.L.Ii!....?,59, 1 _ :.r::~ Court of. ,4),?f2._al, hel~l ·:;>E:.·:; ·l;:_l6 evic'cence 01 v:LJLtal id({ ,/:j_f ioa tion 1 1"12.rs of the weak es·;; J..j.1i.d 1 and u.nreFe.1:-le, r>,i:.d t}u..;;i; ·:;.'..10 801,1..r1; ston'.!..;.~ not ,:-.c·~ on j_-~, l.1-l'lless all'possi'iJili·Gies of miErt2}.;:e1:. irlen-!;i:i:io,,:~ion 2,::x, olimina.iiod, .:::n:l t!J.e coG't is sa,tj_sf'ied fully, tl1D.:~ t:1e evidence is obzeolP.tely wate1"-'tii~;:1t. ::Chat suo~1 evidence of iclen·~ifici?;liion be w2.te1'-·i;i<";'l:::;t to jus'i:i:fy com:iotion, is e, ID\.lSt, befo:re corr,~.c-:;::.on, 1·1as hel?. :Ln -:;~.1.e O[,i,so of R .YfL!.. p_;~FFJ:..~£..i12§9l. EI. 17Lb 2,lso . sh01·1:Ln.:;, -;;Ii.e s~cri0tness :·r:i:~~,. ·t1::dch oon~1ic-liions basecl on ident:.:.fio~~tion e.:r.•e loo!::ec1. a/li. In ·this cnse in::'.eecl r:-r . 1 Si.ID:. !J1.B0'Lli. ['.1.'ld IY\T.2 N!..HOHt~ 3..."X'JI;. 1 clv..i::1c(~ i;o l1av3 sGen ar~'.~. L1..antified, the ·2;,ee~;_secl persons, a.,."icl ,3ven i:tvcn at·~i:re c1.escription. So far so good, 2,J1:i sub,jeot "lio oreclil)iH·i;y, t:.;.ei:;.• eviclonce ooulcl 'be t1.r;:.3fp.l lo:;..' conviction purposes. In the case of J........... vs._,.. - !::.92ll:l·[1D };_:j:l,1_,}_µ,rpr (fil~?)_.9R.1k\q,l~E, the cou.:.~t ap1?rici2/i;iv0ly poin·~j.nc ot.1t the use of description, .:1,-!; ~m30 73, sa.id;- 11This c~mr-:; hr. r~ prGviously pointed. ol.'.:!i 1 r,ncl we wish to repeat, tl:.2;·(; i.n :JVery case on wh:;_ch ·::>.e:;:,e j_s a Cfl.lGstion as ·i;o. the_ ic1..e1-;,.·a·ty oZ the accused., t};le f ac·~ of there liavin~?; been 2, clcr.icr;i.ption giv.0:1 1 :-.1x.l ·c~?.e t€rms of t:1at description, 2.re .1;12,·i;-c1:;;rs of -~:ie ::.i.?;}tc::-li i111portancet of .,1,; 011 ev-i.... ...,.,.,____ ,:i o:'c l~ 0 .........•, .01, O,'..(_; .,_ 'l-"' .... t·o .00 (:,'1Vcn, a 1·,·lcy;c, · ,, · t' OJ..o 2',11 f :.:l.rs. of' COi.'I'Se, :·1y ·:;~:e person, or personc ·i;o whom the . descl"ipt:i.on 1-1a.s 0 ri ven. n I 3 - Such description, in Il\1r h1.m1blo v .... 0w adds a. J.ot of c:rodance, and waic;b.t to · thG iC:.~:k'i.fic"1tio:1 cvi::lc::cc, in pm-tictila.r 1.£:0:1 suc~1 ct0sc:dptio11 of attire, tallies with tho attire the suspect 1-~1.s aqtli.ally wearL1g, or with such attira as is lJ!)on sea.rch found, 1..mdor his ~-= .Jsession or control, as this assures that: there was no concoction. In this case, wi-t:b. respect, the prosecution dutifulJ.y a11d in good fni-fu proclv.ced PW. 1 SlJ::lA MABrll,A, 2nd PU.2 MAHON.A. SA.IDA, who mai:lltained ti.-.a:t thrOll;'.:;h moon-liJrt (moo:na m,;ezi) 'if:~¥-~ visually identified tho acct1...'3eds:; ndministorin,c; p8llga. blows, upon the doc02,sodo Given that. they clairnad to 1)G Gyc wi tne:sses, such evidance. if irnpoooable, would indeed oo so dr.mninc t::.at ove:1 lucif'cr would concededly nQd.• a.s-:-iocts:- ( i) pcrtdrrir:.::;· to lijlt then pr0v::d.ling as to enable them to identify tho attacL-.:ers, and:- (2) the reliability of the attire description. If I rna;;~ stv,rt ,;i fa the ±'orrr:or, that the wi t:1oss0s identified the a.ttaokars t:!.1roug;.1 moor.J.i§lt, :!10 m·ioldli parlance be:i.1'6 "mbara mwezi" at that tim0 i.e • 7 .30 - 8 :p .. m. c..:i.ld. of brii:i1tn0ss closori'uod, :i:J.fl wh.0,t. vind.icates us, in our obvirn..1.s doubts, :.s the vri tnossas 1rav0rL1e, ai'ld provaricatin£s, and finally in cross-0::i:a:nh12tion,PW .1 saying ''it was mLtting dark, 11 and PW"2 sa,ying 9 1'It. was dz.rkish," a;:1cl P~-T-~2 upon roaahi11::; tho s00110 nnd asld.ng, "N.AlH II.AlTA?9Me~iiiigho did no_t identify t:1em. -I cannot tb.erofore, in n:w viow of such e·,,,-:i.,].once, c.._l tiv2.to r,zy-00lf to c~-:1olurl0, t:-..o,t the light then prevailing, parmi ttod identific~:tio.n, free of mistatas~ or error. 1110 attire description by the sama w1tnessos, under the claimed light 1 oondi t:i.ons, is not 0,ron vi:.1c1.icc,tinr, -+~1at tJ.10 accused :parsons are 1 or wero tho mes, at foe scone of CI'ime. It is I think instructive to show how tho 1 descri:pt:i.01'18 differed. PW.1 SA.IDA ¥.iA.13lJLA told tho Court, that, the first accus0dl was, -1- Ccvorinc his shouldo)b with a. blaok oloth,-2- wearing a bl2ck " trouser -3- a wl:ite hat,-4- hands covarod witi.1 a uhito material, 2..nd-5- armed with a. rinnea. II0 ccldod tD.at tl10 2nd accus0d was -1·· web.1:i:l.nga black trousor. -2- a black oloth on tho shoulders, -~- axmod 11i tl: a clud.. But a.ccording to Pt·T.2 M.AJlOlTA s..'l.ID..i, tb.e 1st accused vms -1- 1-roa:ring a black torn trouser, with visible t111clJrpnnts -2- ha vras bare chested -3- wearing a vfu.i to ca::;, -~4,· holding a bl<1..ck cloth in his loft hand, cmd .:.4- hole.ling a :panga. in :!J.is rifgi t hand. H.a ..,( added fuc.t tho 2nd accv~'3otl wn.s,-1- wearing a. pair ~f $l.Orts,-2- ho was ba.ro ohGstod -3- lT02.I'ing a. wi1i to cap protruding into the face (as domonstra.tGd) -4- wea.rin& a. :pioco of cloth around tb.0 nook. Of course tho accused.a d0niod possessing such n.ttiro, ,111d nono was discovorod, from their housos 1 but avan if such attire wore to ~)a, found, would it bo of closcription given by PlT.1 S..uDA i,ili:U.W.1or ~i.,2 U,i.,."-ION...i. S!..D).t fr both? ,either way it would bo an impossiblo task. Bui more ir;iportant in m2r view, is t::..o quoJ.i ty -:,f such identification 0vicl0nco, 1h.icb. :posas U11.ru:iswora.blo quostiorm. If tor oxampla, thoro was suoh ampl0 noonl~-Ght, c,s wa.a c.cllod ''lv1ruP..A M:T.TIJZI.'.!.,. covarin,.;- the shoulder ~f 1st a..ccuscc1-, ,rould ?lf .1 soa black cl~..-th but P~T2 s00 baro ohosts of two accr:.lSOd? Or would P. TT.1 sea 2nd accused woar::..:.,g o.. trov.sar, I ····••14 4 ·- but.JchescU11e chang0 into a pair of sho1 ts,w2.1en j_t Caiilet·~o P1I.2 e.-'.;.c.? 1 It . -ma . falls to be saJ.lt that this conflict does suggestLeven ·:;he p1 evailing ligb.t 1 was no·~ eno,:gh, fcJ: impeccal:;le identificc:,t~:.on. In '.i.'.'LU'al a:i.:eas, it is cv.stomary -to raise alarms, e:i·;;h0r by word of mov:'i;h, or, throv.F.,h ~ t:1e ~ -~ uJ. ur"' nsJ·· 1 .,e.. 7 · -'l,y ,,,.,ca.i.:.:.. - or" sl~Ch ~' · lim.ngs, .cH3 u.l'LY,,s t 01' cont r1· ved bcllll-;:,-, ..;i ". Tn - -'-his ., C"'se '" , ,yr 1 S•'TD' J. "e i...,.· ;~ ·xu..nu.wJ,. 1v·~~.,,- · · d a 1 arms, ~.1,:.-:_ -~Jlc1. sai·d h e ra.1.se , t. vil 1agers including villa-ge leaders, barozi, and. Sl::.ngu.sungu attended. It is also an undeniable fact, that even t~J.e accusecJ.s did a·iitend tn.o;;:.[;'~. ·;;::iey arrived 11 8 J,-,1-.,.·ere 1,' 1 :t1_·'..-.. ~.--,·, a.goousgo d.sa•·•"'~,, . late. I·~ is also true, tr...a-t PWo 2 1.~7:0l'TA Sil.DA Ju·o lc --L. . u ·"'-V becaL.,_se b.e s;_;:_:3pec-lie6. tJ.1em, and going awa;y they did, only fo ~)e arrested ne::;;:t "Clay e..f·:;e:r 10 .P... L Botl1 FWu1 and PW.2 claimed -to 1.a,ve rGported to the asser::bhn,:; v'.:.112-.::';e:-i:s, how J.;lle~r had see11 tlle accui:,eds fatally raining blows upon the decea,:e::l.. :31:t the accuseds, r.1aintain t:'.1a-t · till -~he;r were expelled fxom the scene, nej_i;hcr PW.1, :1or Pi.2, ;.,,ad mentioned the1~1, and that,- even the deceased. upo:n being asked as to who had a0sat1lted he:r 1 sb.e denied knowing the at-t;ackeJ:s, sa.;;1 :l.nz she b.ad. been surp1 ised from behind.1 ~:la.Icing an observ·at:Lon,it ~-s my view that immidia·be' reporting of an ine;:~dent,as , serious ' s..0 this to au:Gl10rities,not only is sucl:,. reporting impulGivel;y· activated, as soon as the c:rirn:Lnal scene is seen, bL1t also, such report:Lnz does not pe:;;mi t concoction, or contived afterthought, unli:.rn reportin0 a:neJ: a considerable lapse of time, 1-Jllich shows lack of seriousness, indiference, and even rarity of truth, and :i.:c: even permissive of rt.1mours, a,dultarateq. tri.•.ths, suggestive untruths, or may even be outright false consoctionse On -~lr-.o aspect, of early reporting, it v1as observed, in the case of SF,ABAN BDJ YX;>~-u~-q-.J..~_R_u.2.4.Q) i124.9.l.]__~q_4.._tQ. thus:- " :,re desil'e to a.dd, that in tl1e cases like a.11.rl i;:1.C.:.eed is eve-:,~y case, in whfoh an imui.diate report !ms been made to the Police by someone who is subsequen~;J.y calhd as a uj_tness evidence of the details of Sl,ch repo:Ct ( save such portions of it as TJay be a,d.m:;.sr,;j_ble as bo~.n.z- hearsay or the like), should alwa;ys be :;iven at the trial., 3uch evi:lence frequently _p:coves · most variable, sometimes as cor1"'0boration of ·:;}..:.e evicle;.1ce of the witness under section 157 of -[;~1e Evicle:1ce ..~ct (.consistencw·_I_ Jl?i;..:t].lc ) and somet:1.rnes as shoHing that, what he now swears is an afte1•t}:..oi.·/tl:-.t, or· ·i;hat, he is now purporting iden;bHy a pe:roon iilJ.o he• really did not recognise a·c the time .. °". o u u 5 - :L'he question of :.:-cportinc; those, PW.1 end PW.2 iaentified aa the attackers to t:.12 o;..:t:;.o::..·i·tic3, iz ·., .:-,.:th persu.ing anl developing, as in -~his case,::· s it ia also inextrica~:>lely intertii'imd2.t~. w:.tll their accuracy as 'lio identification., On the que::J"cion of reporting, or e~, .. 1 mentioning the aocr:setts 1 to the assembling rnar,ses of people, that inclv.ded village leade:;;s a:.-rl ".sungusungu" 1 PW .1 und.erc::i:-oss-:-e:;:amination 1 said:- 11 r.Vhe accuseC.s were there; .:d one time tb.e accus3ds -were tole'_ -~o :.,o ;;.;way, becaqse ·:;hey were responsible :t'or the ac·;;. T::l tl.is ti1;1e t:'.J.eJ' harl been ri1entio11ed by ·:;!.:.e deceased. By -~hen_, ___ I hi?J.l l!Q._t mentioned ·i;he acct~s~ everi. ~-•-TlC~;-J·.. S,U.DA A~- n_ot m_~_.ntioned the ac<2£._~eds." . . And when cross-A;c.'1.illinad, by Gentlemen Assessor .JOill\J k~~WE:, PHo1 equ:i.vocatinc)y said g- , 11 I cU.d not mention the acc11,sed I s names while 1 cd.sing alarms 1 for fear of• be:i.ng attacked too. (;-.sked. as ·:·,o 11::;;;r he never men-;;j_oned tha names immidiately people came) . GJJ..1§.11!), I have "10 answer. (:ct'ter a long pause )o If iJc does da.wn Ui~O.i.l u.s, tl1at it was '[;~1e deceased, that men-l;::.oned the accused persons, j_t 0..0'3S 1.u1ecruivccally, equally come oi.lt, thai; F'T'i.1 and PW'.2 nev-ar met1tio11cC. the acc·.1.sGd '. s persons ,before the .s.sse;nblin_:s vill2,g;e1·so But I am not disposed fo ·i;:3,°:ce seriot.1sly, eitr.3:c, the claim tha.t -the r:.eceased did mention the accLs.aec:s, before they wore ·co lcl to go away. It :;.s lJecaase ,ei ,.;her way, if. ·che acc~'.seis persons :b..ad been m<~ntionec::. befo1·c t~1c::.:-: arrivc.l, and immediately after tlJ.e a:litac:c, the villa,ge leade:r-s and. the cr--re.n e:;:nberant Sungustmgu., would h,:1ve ar!'csted the acci.:seis even befo:re -;;;_,.e accusod came to the scene$ or- imn,:Ldia:t;ely upon t:1eir a:r:.:ival a·:, the sce;:1e 1 -~o answer the alarr.1S. l3t."::; 110·:;}1j_nt:; of this ldnd hr,,ppened. /U'ld even more s·:;~ange,, if the arguemen·b is e:r..1)al1Cled, is :.iow ea,sj_ly Vi-T.2 l:i/JIOW~ ~.t.I.DA torn ·:;hera to go a.waJr, claimedly ·bece,.,.sc, he suspected -t;he killers could not h..1,v::i come from afar, and that thG accusedS were late to a.ns1-1er alarms. ~·.ga:i.n 1d.·l;b. respect t -we find it strange, th2t nr.1 confessedly, clid not eV(311 r:Hm::;:\0"1 th_e accuse~::i na.r.;.es, in connecJGion ·with t:1e killing in their pres0ncG 1 a.n~l the;i; Ji;'.lc sa.:ie accusocls ware ar:·eatccl ne=t dc...y after 10 A.M. shows they were men-i,::.oned. ouch later, demonstrating, th.a:~ J.;lle wbol3 process could. have been a 1):,:0::l,~ct of aftcrt:iotl{_;l'lt, .L \·:. sUgf.:;esti ve a..'1d a:::sump-tious accusations, behind the bacl: o1 {J.e accused perGol'.ls., . I woti.lc-;., like, the Gentlemen 11sr:1esoors conclt:.cle, ·i;l;,e.:;; -;;he said w,i. '.f;ne s es . ,._,_ -,- 11ever report,.:d, tl1e accu.seds to t:1e at:t}oor~. tiee, or to villagers assembling in c'J.'lswer t0 a.lar..:w ;a:.rl t!:J.G fai.L.cra does p;:-ovo'.rn ::-ad generate d0t.1bts, whether indeed, tho said ·i•1::. -~nesscs, did properly ident:i.:.:y ·(;ho atJtiackcrs as the accu::;0d pernons. i - · .P..nd finally t we are not forgetting~ the alleged d.y:L1g cleolarations 1 staged by the Repi:lllic, t:U'ough ·1-·;f.1 SAIDA I1.iAJ(CLA, hfo2 jY1£UiOIJA Si':I.DA, and. Pif.3 MARAlIDO NKD.':GA. H is to be recolleG"lied, -~ha·~ 0,.1 the ENic°:.ej:1cc 1 the deceased KUI.,;,fA MAC:JIA, mentioned the two acci ·eds, as her attacke1•s, fixs·i; ·to the assembling yj.llagers, that had attended the alarmE3,secqnd at the Police Sta·liio11, and third to IU.I·lt~.E:JO 11CTNGii. PWe3, at the hospital. What is ·:;o no noted here, is thd.t the _fad ·:;~t the deceased'. mi 0ht have fold different pe:.ssons, tha·~ Jlihe accuseds we1•c the ?-ssai la,nts, is only -evidence of thG consistency of her belief, ;tb.a·t such was· the case, and it is not ·a guarantee of accuracy. What is more importaJ.1t 1 are the circumstances u.nd.e:r which s:!J.e ~ms attacked, and. when the fil r:.ri; cleclaration was made, for if -cb.e. attack tool;: pl2,ce u.'1.dar 1 infavoura'tlle conclitions for identifica:l;j.on, and, o.r, if tho rleolaration was made a.f ter long la:;>Se of hov.rs· after the attack, the weig,x,; fo 'Jc attack~d will obvi~~y be 1:i.-t·Ue. Pointing ont -lillat such dying cl.cola:..•;:,.;~ions· · l>e ·receivea/..cae.tion t was th~ case of, ~.J..4:>DlTGA .S.JO fJC(ff): _YE. _(.125_4l._sl_ Elf! .,3Jj_ at 33_4.t. the Con:::-t of ..'.~ppeal sa.id:- '• l,••• 11 Tl:.o caution with which this l~.nd of ~e::itimoriy shovJ.cl b'3 1~eceived haG been cofilii1e1Ti;ed upono ::i.11:.e ·i;cs'G of c1'0sc-e7,.am:i.11a;hj_on may be wholly v1antinz, ancl ••••••• t!le pe..rtic,....lars of the evidonce, ma;y have oocurec. v.nror circr1.11s-ca.nces oj: confusion, and st.1.rp:cise, caJ.m.1la·~ec.. fo prevent -l;l:wir being accura~.ely o1Jservcd 1 ....... ::e:b.e dcceasec1 may have s·~ated. h":L's inferences, fron facts concer;.1..i.n:.,; which he i:.ay have onti. tted importa.n-!i par·~iculars, frorn not having his attent:Lon oe,llecl to thom. 11 ,-1·he abo..V'c ·jJ-::rl .__,.,.. r:.~-,1~ . .,, be0n \C!c;.... -~ e... • f ec'nootl JO . l1:.l\J C ,-L .. h, or" .:!:£::!-·;. 1'.L..., J.·._ n ,., ..__ ,._.D,....t,;••.,J. • ..-.. ..i.i..-J.:J,. C,., 7 '·•·,· ,.;,-/;\/. . ., ,•.•. v0 .;;'. _(.1234,) _l!lMlJ:i!.J.91 and hence Jchero has envolved a. pra,ctice, t:.c.a:li j:i; is very unsafe to base a conviction, solely on the dyi11g. declaration, of deceased. person, unless -there iB satisfactory corroboration. I have a0ove; shown hon unsafe, and unreJ.:i.able, the evidence of PW.1 SJJl)A I.U'J.;T.1LA o,nc1 PW.2 lliJIOIU Sl:I.3)1.. was. This clyin[¼ cl0claration, as did the GeEtlemen .Asses:,:o:rG po:~;_y(; out, does 1 no·li unjoy be;ttcr a::J.va.nta.ges. .i.1he prevailing 15.ght them was 1.u1oatisfactory, as the eqtuvocat:'.011, by P~i.1 and ;;lf.2 d0r:1oni:rli:ratGcl. Lnr~: sl:.C!.-:.lcnly _emerging f~ora behhd the house, as Fll.1 saio. 7 wac a caloi·la.·:;or~ ':' 1.-.:;:-prise. J..nd the stateme11·1;, nNJ'J3IICTf~ I~W:. :{;~TU Uiu:)J.,O~,..;fAT01l.1C ~.Y~1, n r:.pon being aslc.ccl, to why she had. been attacked, asf'!uming sl:i.{3 r:1ad-0 obviously p01mj_ssive of tr.:.c assunption, which could be false, on her part, 7 -~:iat sine-.: ·:i;.ie -JG·~ acc,:..:ed ~ lost :.U:-.: c...:.:..:..:, and ~;ho talk of the village, was that the deceased had be 1·1i tched ·the sa.:Ld cl:ild 7 a.n.d ui·:;ch d.octo:rs wore poll~ . . · generallyfldllecl, therefore her attal'."'~:ers include the first accused. This could. b_c false, and it is has not b0. _ dcmonsj;rated·~t·:obe true to the stand.arcls rocr-.tLl·cd. Thus conGiclering th0 aroa. of idcntifiga,tiontand it:-,; pro"blcEls as demonstrated he1·Gint anc~, fur·:;her consiclering- tho e.llogod. clyil'l{; declaration, and H;s inherent weaknesses, ,and the possi blo asaump·~ion at·~cnda.nt to tao dying declaration in this case, I do ~C'l•oc with t:::.o GcntleLCll Assessors, that -~he evidence in this casG, in general leaves a lot to be o.esiroc.l - ; the clu:..r&.,X3 again::it the accusc,ls has not the ref ore been proved beyo:1el ro2,so11:able doubJc. Like, tho Gentlemen Assessors, I find the two accused. pc:'sons not guil~y, and like them, I a.oqd. t t:...orn accoriingly 1 and set them free • - . - J'JDGE 6/8/i992