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Tanzania Judgment

TZHC

19940721 TZHC Dar es Salaam

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Source document

01

Holding and result

There was reasonable doubt as to whether the accused's acts or omissions amounted to culpable negligence causing the child's death. The prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused caused the death by an unlawful act or omission. The accused is entitled to the benefit of the doubt and is acquitted.

Court disposition

acquittal

Orders

  • The accused is acquitted of the charge of murder.

02

Material facts

Parties

Republic

Prosecution Counsel: Us L. State Attorney

Agnes Lingacha

Accused Counsel: Gaturu O. for Accused

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Criminal / Judgment

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The prosecution alleged that the accused unlawfully caused the death of the child by failing to provide necessary care, resulting in death by dehydration and starvation, and that her explanations regarding the child's origin and care were false.
Respondent
The accused claimed she was left with the child by its mother, attempted to care for the child including seeking medical attention, and that the child's death was due to illness (vomiting and diarrhea) rather than any intentional or negligent act.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Penal Code, Section 203

    Section 203 of the Penal Code: Causing death includes hastening death by act or omission.

  2. 02

    Penal Code, Section 195

    Section 195 of the Penal Code: Manslaughter by unlawful act or omission amounting to culpable negligence in discharging a duty tending to the preservation of life or health.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

There was reasonable doubt as to whether the accused's acts or omissions amounted to culpable negligence causing the child's death. The prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused caused the death by an unlawful act or omission. The accused is entitled to the benefit of the doubt and is acquitted.

Obiter and limits

  • The accused's story about the child's mother abandoning the child was found to be false.
  • There was no evidence that the accused reported the alleged abandonment to any authority or her relatives.
  • The absence of the child's mother as a witness did not, in this case, undermine the prosecution's case as she could not be traced.

Court disposition

acquittal

  • The accused is acquitted of the charge of murder.

Source and reliance status

TZHC · 21 July 1994

This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.

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Judgment text

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Source document

TZHC

Judgment· 21 July 1994

19940721 TZHC Dar es Salaam

• J;. .i.N '.i!HE: RLGH Cotm.1 '- OF 'J!.ANZAN...A " ' -~ .•. ii~ DiR.m-·-~ .J. OR:i.G..1.NAL J'URi SIL C'.l'.i.QN r "" ve;rsus .• . ' AGNES Ll.N"GACIIA Murder ;.1 e/s 196 of: t11e :Penal Code .,.. J U ]) G hl E lif ~.: ' . .. ~ -,-'·•~ ~ d -NJ;nes l41'3'acha stan~ cha.raed on an :i.f.lfo~at':t..~.- 9£ -~~ oontr~ to sect5.·on 196 of 1he Pemu ·Coda. fJ is alleged :;ct t'ba~ _o_n~ar a90Ut 23rd NOV'Ombar 1989 at·-J~. lU?ea 14 tbirr'Ilala-; l.n tho Rogi~n of Dnr. OS Sal~ W~ ~~~done ~,1 ..· ~.la -;- facts ' ~-t · •r 1n dtsputo .. ,· · a.t'8 that , ·Ra.rna,dlw-t-t ~ •-; Juma is dead · f and _tlls~l)Ost ~em- o:randna:t:ton :report in l.'8'G1)8ct-· of the aeceased ' - • • •( • • • I \ •• (Ul"'l~:~iJ. P:'f Y• 1121532 neteotiw CorJ?<>ral ~.ld:,_:PW-1, told the · .~curt tbat she knew Jhe accused irhom she fnter.eogate~ on ~/1·V~9 tn a. oase .,· . . of chfld stoa.J,ing. - ~lS a.ccused-told ., P1I1. at first tbat· ,,; .\' ,. ., the chl.ld 11as alive. ., Bu.t a:rter going~to-the J?l~s where the . . ., 1 acausod 1~ ~-a tho child lfaS ~ not f'indhig _tho~·cl.15.ld, the aooused eon:tes&xl ., ., t'hat the oliild ., 1ms actually dead a.:ri.a. tl~.t-the ..- ; a.cousod had ·: ; '( tnkan the~. doad· body'• -1:o . \ tho J ai.,-:rwa.fii. v.al:t. oy wt th ·. a ·witch doot~ ·. • ~ \ ·, ~ PW1 ~a."ld other Policemen could 110t get t1ie-wt't-oh-dcro·tor;menti0md -. by tha n.ocuaed. ~hey howevo:i..-:went up

to i11e p;l..ac~. in the J ~ _val_ley 1d1are the MCUSed Jod :~~~. !l;hoi found dead body 9t _the ti10 -ohi.ld 1trl.Oh. r-ras shown to-tlw ·mother of the ch.i.ld and ~ho 5.detttified .,.,- -- • ., ' ' 'i ; •• i-t to be-tl,lat ~f her lost oh.i.ld. !I'lwy took the body to Kagomeni ·-· \ .•••• · ! Pol.i.oo St-a;tiori-.· .: ., · · -,:- ---- ... - ., - ·- ·· ~-.. - ...- . ' -. . J'uma Allamad mT-2. testi1'5.ed that in-1989 : ~ ., na.s a med.i.oal ~sista.ltt at .tiL BILAL ~~ABLE D.LsP.ENafilY when .he ~t· iihs_ accused Agnes L111t:,~. ~~ a.ccused~had beon brcugh"t to the D:1.~1-ioa.ry by he:i.• hw31Jand ·and• other relati.~. ~ .a.<)CUSQd. hatl er,· B!'.1ru, ~11 fld., , I· . ·- 2 - - .\" ~ b.tsba.ria. and the J."elat:i.ves wnnted PW.2 t·o tell them ,rhetber too child • . ·'i .... ·• .WW.oh . accused had ··was . -. hers. ·. ' -pw2 · asked -the ~- aoC1.1.Sed .., aoout .' the child . . . a.nd ~ \ the accO.sed . ,; said that the oh:i.ld ·woo not hers .but tha:t of her sister . who '.: \" . ,: l.i.v&d at'· JtorogOl.'O. PW2 info:t'!l1Sd everyone what the aocused ~ sa.i.d~ ~;J.ast ·:· wttri)ss -, -was .lcy'ubµ.... Lingacba PW3 ~who wa:l· ., . . a -.brothex of t'he ,- . accused. PrT3 said tba't . be saw . . the _a.ooused rlth a .olti.ld in 1989. ;i1e11 : : .:. .~ ~ ~ 22/11/89 Police came· to hi_, ho.~ ~d requi.~~ h~m to aecompa.rw them· t·o loo}5:. for a ohilcl. PW3 wnt w:tth the PoUQS . . ..

. to::tba .. Msimbazi valley ' ' ldlQr8 tJJsy saw a. dea.d-cbild. . ' PW3 cmud iaent5.fy the dead child as t'he • ., . ; -i On3 he had .; seen with\ the aocusec1.- tfue name o:f the ohi.ld was Salum Juma • 'i Even the mother of tho ob:1.ld wa,g tl1e:re·. . ;·,t. ' I1,1 her dsfenoe the ~ a d said on oa.th·-t1'iat she wa.s o~babtt5.ng 'W5.th J:uma Salum after she left herll!1Cle 1 s home ttt-suruKttu S.-l;ree-lf. \ -•: . -: ; t ·t 0n 'li3/1.o/89 . the accused·-was at Kariakoo : and she .met . a woman whom is k:na~ and who was J?.er frt.ena. Trur·woman lw,a-a ch.·i.ld-and--the accused · went· titli her to .t'be Railway ' ' Station ~-: so as +o •. escort' some friends .. • .; !rhe . . aoCL11,led . left the S.tat:i.011 . a,,t . a.round 5 ·l) .. ~. ai:id . )?l:'oooe~ed .~ with ~ . \ #';r:i. . 01.1d. to her .liom.e . and then to ME.:nzese., ;; ~ WJ.1m1 . t110y eot to Ma.nzese : . tho womn whom the accused knew s5.mI>1y··as )!a.ma. Clranja said :tllat she had no bus f.a.'re'• ~e accused was holdirl[; :!ihe wo1'\ani:s cJ:dld. ' . . 'l'lw ·t a.caused~ ottered to· go across the • I ,; ~aa to bor.ro1-t ·t1i.e bus· fa.re- from· ' • • • • ;. lier ·m.u1t' and:· she asked the woman ~to ~take he:r ch.:. ict_ Th~ woman told 'the a.c~d that she could co w:5.th the ~bild ~o he:r attnt't.s a.s she - was~r . tired. ~. ~ . a.ooused . laft with tbe-,roman•·s ' child to her a:unt ; ~ just'• ·ao....~ss·

the. roa.tl;. •, \ When she oamo -, . 1-ck the womo.n h.a.d-di sa.p-pe.a:red ' .. leav:tng the ohild with the accused. .; ·.t Whe a.ocused left with t'he ch.i.ld .•• ... . • . . ~~·lltlr ho~ wile~ her '1.UlCla aaked ~ · about the cm.lei. ~!Dhe accused told • l ~ 1 • • ' • • • ; 'I, • ! . • \ •• • • ~i'm~~t ~~, mother bad aisa1>l?9~~a. ·-~ aoeusai kaJ?~~the · ohl.ld ha_ping tnat· j_ ts mother would appeax to take it' becm.1.Se ·'tha mother kne.w wh~ •°i ; -; ·; .\ . the accused ll~d. ·-·~ aa09,SGg. .. ~t-fted goi!lc3 ~ the .Dis1:>el1SaJ'.'Y where PW2 ~lead and telling bim t1ia:t th.e child was 110t hors\- !-hen. in the course of ti~ the-·ol'.15.14, beoa~ ill. . : • 'l'he cl1..i.ld 'Wa:3 vatdt:tng and .had t ·' clia:t".®.oae. ~ a tempe~~. . . •\· . ·'i • 1l'he a.ce11sea··too1c the child t'o'·Ama:na ,· . \' ·t" h~s_p5.tal, twice. ·;"On·;the seco~ occasion the ~cused·w~ g@iflg t·o·· Ki'gogo by bus :f".rC?ni- Amana. IIos-.f):l.t·aio Wllile on ttie 1:rus, tb.e··0-1-ttld died. !rhe accused . disembarked fi>on··tJJ_e ous·-and went to .,El. place i:irifhe . .. .; \' ;. - l ~ . valle:y whe~ she lJUt the c~-1~ down. .li:ft'er some 1ime she left· t o ~ K~ogo to so~ ho:i: ~other. S!;l.e~was a.r:resiled ~ ~ha vralked to Kigo~o and fakan~to the Pol:i.ce Sta~.on where. she t·old tlw :Pol:i:_oe all t~-t,t;rbioh hltd taken :t>lace. ~e mc,ther of~the dee..d. oh4.ld was with the PoJ5.oe when -the

accused was a.i.--rested., - 3 -= - ., .. miie ii.ocusea so.{d~f't..U'thef ·b:i.at the_ a,ccu.sed went_~to where the mothe:i/or\" .,·the• child. • ... '=' \ --lived ' but' • she-did • ,· • not find h~ there; 'I' • ' When referred ·; le:tt with the o~i.ld, the accP.s~d. smd···t"lmt wl:en s~10 made the st~1:ernent she···nas-in-great . . Suspense . . ch:,te to 1.Jedi-nts~by .. ' t-he .:., PoFceo . -. She-de~d.·- . ·• \ ,•, '• \ " sc;;i7'.;;nf(5.n the statement' trot she had met the mo-tlleJ:> fox tbe first tj_ me on that dzy,, ~e defence r1ftnes~ ~ To:·.; ~.ata Kaayc, ~J:?1f2 who testified tllat he·)_).t.."""'8pa.r.ed ,;. . 'h-be ·. pc;st' ·, mort"em·•e:s:ami:nation--rer)().i_--t· . ., . . : :i.n""J.'esf)ect ·: .- . of a ch.i.ld Rard.1e,1:1i . :• .. J""uma a.:ft-er conducti:110 .' a post mort'em--a,:x:a.m5.:natiorr. . '. J:n . h;Ls . ' ·- \ '\ ~ e~.11..1.t:fon he found the :t11tSX11£1.l pacts dry w..th no food j_n :the stomach. . -t . i ~ ·was dehydration and ~tm-ra.t5.on whl.oh·oo'l..11d have been caused by "V"Om:=.t:i.ng and dia.tThoea if the-deceased chi.Id had Such-malMYo ... ' ' ', • ,- ·'i" He found the··cau.se of death to be di..1e to d.eeydra.tion~anq. 1:3-t'awatiori. Ile concluded • •; •' • ,• \ • \ • ~ I • ' • • • t1m.t:_·t11e lack of food in the stomach meant tliat ~he chl.ld had no food fo1~ tha last··--24 ··110Urs. _1ni.i.le maldng his subm:i.ss5.on, 1-lr. ·Gatur-Gct

s2:.d 11.k"l.i ~he mother <?f t"ha ohild never gave . evidence . . rrhtch.. .. ..ra:i:sed ; ' some dOV:.bt .. .. in t'he·prosecu:tion . ~ \ to Ur.• Uga:tunga, ·lea.med ~otl.llS13lj" it is_"noth tJJ.at the mothef' of th~ daooased . was le:rt. out ±~1' the li~t of witnesses.·· ., . . \ She 1-ras : o..ctually the - \ f:i.rst· on-the l:tst of wi tne~sed to be called b;y· t:!.e 11.ar.i.e of Mwar12,shabani - • •, 'i .. . .. RamadhF.ni.. .., Dut-she·. was not-called ,; ' to c;:i.ve . ev:i.clef'i.ce . ' beca1..1..se . .. she could not- ; \ be traced despfte the fact tlmt she 11£',d made G. si;aicrnent in whi.ch ~- had g:i.ven bar address. !I!"nei"8foi--e _th.i.s oas~··:ts d;_st5-TIGuishable f:t>om t'be case of mobia.s Mzigo -and, ap...9y~ez- Vo ii, Crimirial l~pr,eal No. 44·.·oi 1993• Itt,--!robias Mzigo!_~~, Marcel~.no Nassoro 'the otrnex of the home wbare a .,mm-de:c was commi t'ted WliS nove:r. ,.. called as a 1r.i.-tness and indeed he i-TaB ; \ . . : \ not even included among the u:i. ti:'lesses ' hwolved .i.11 Jhe ittent:tficat:i.on ' .: J?&-a.d.O and no reason or e.:x:planation .: was-given . for tll.e- omission; ·\ -••\ •\ ·\ \ _:;.As t'o how-+.'tne child came to be wi~h the accused, I do not a~ept her .~to:i.1',V . . on what ··mppe~d. . . . ' ..~ According to PW1 a.-oco.sed·-wa.s . being tnter- -: 1'.ogated-:i.n oonneotion 1n.th-the offenoo of cli.i.ld stealing. ·-!rba,t

means 'i" .- ; ... .·; .·: • ..,: . tlla.t someom-had-·-reported to the police that h:i.s ~ her "Ohl;l.d-naci-been 1· • ,; l \ .,; ., .• ·\ stolen. If the mothei' of the ahifd had ab~~d the chlld ui th t11e ~cused she could h....rdly~be ar,Q0ct-ed to ~re~ tl1a.t· h~r child had been stqlEH?,. . ,. ., Also according to PW1. and ., PW3 the rnotlw:.: cf the~oh.i.ld .'o/D-S. ' \ m.th the police on the day when the ac~ed was 1Jo5.~ Jn'terrogated. The acct1®d-o/V'Gn'tu.a:tly . . sliowed~tJ.io·fqlice .. , ,: where . ·., he··Imd . . 11ut the dead. bo<t,...• · \ •\ I···fl.1-iti ,, it illogical that' t1ie-mothet •'• . :. ., of the·-cl,5.ld would . leave the ch.i.ld ' :tr.i.th tha nccused under the cir.cv.J!lstanccs c;~_vcn ~,✓- t;.ie accused and not - 4 - go :r-~ tl;la ohild when;she-1rnew whefe th~ 11cmrned 15.ved but on ?3/11/89 be -w:_th trio P9ltce after the ~ax:;.~ of the-acm,sed fo1.· cJ?.ild st9a-ling:~ . ..-!-4!,d not'· get·-the story o-f the mother of the cii.ld~ But eve.n t'hen :it· . . ' ' . . . .~ . ' . ' \ saunas odd to me that the motP,01.' w?uld~be u:i.th t110 Pol:i.ce ap_p~nt1y -·- ;o~-ne for ~er oh.i.ld one month~a.fi;'er the chi.la. .-ras lost Vhen this same mother . . knew the person who bad ik:lcen . her·. chi.le!. and whe:re··th"i.s-:person . . -·: . .. ' ·; \' 3::i:yed. ~~ story of t~o accused t'ries t·o dev:tct· a s:i.tuat1.on tbat the m('.)-tih~~of . . the-child '

. actu..,J.:I~y : abendonea·tne child a:)J?a!'ently because- . . she 65.d . not 1ra.nt:·the . ch.tld . arzym~ . . . .,·· tt'his is ha:rcUy t"'.1.10 on.ser . ' Furthe.i'morer. ~ the a.cmised took pa.ins~not to di.:sclose~w~ere ohe· had got- tlie child from. Pf-3 saw the ·accused wi~ the ·o1r..1a., but t-he accused nwer told he1• that it· ua.s a child of·-a woman . :f.r:i.end who' had-di.:-sari:paa.i.""'ed; . . . \ •\ 11hen PW2 al.so sa-u: t'i.i1e, o..coused with the ch:U~ an?- this timc~it wtts tho ·accused's : hus'band and rela1iws who-. wanted . to know whetl~e~ : ,· ilas-·of the child ' the acm:sed. ~~t means that the 9-cm1sed hacl:not d'.sclosed to theip how she lui.ppe_r,ied~tc~have a child~ :Jiost p.i'obably the~accused~had ~ee~ ~elUng t-hem t~~ it ~a.Erh.~rs;; ··DL1.t·.. one thi.l1[; 5.s ce::cta5.n. I-t-.i.s that the··accused <J.i.d :not tell them that the ohi.ld-.,1•rc,s of n. rt.ur"m-ra.y mother, otlierf:t.i.se~ t11,:re would be no 1.1e~on fo:;.:o them to ::;o to~a ,-,eel~ cal off:i.?er to try to ~t oonf:i.i~at:i.oii. 'Whether the cb5.ld 1m.s of th0 ~,ccL1.sed.. - It .ts also - s:i.~.f:l.oa.nt t:hat the-accusecl 110vci,-repo::eted to a:i::~y-one 5.:ru author:i.ty the so oo.llod fao~ that the mother of the c~i+.ld lmc.l ::.......,m away; In~eed szi_e a.td not even t'ell her lru.sband, hej'.' 1•01at:i.ves nnd he:;.• b:rot~er tMs story wh~.oh :Jhe has ·oeen ad:vencf:nc·

:i.1rcom,t. She d;_d not oven tell PW1 who Wo./:1 :i.ntetioe,;n.ting her that the mother~·of the C::.1Ud b.1,d run a1-rcyo That is vtzy-~the~e-~.s -. . . '• no doubt on the falsity of the sto7.f of the acau.sed a.bout the mother running aw~r .- · . ' '»lie aocu.sed 5.s ·chm,g-e<} w.i.th~murder of th.-:.~~olr:ld., {, . . tbat is, .she - . j_s clu.a;.-ged with •causing death of the dece~aa. .-r..th:r.iaJ.:i.ce ~orethau.Ght .. ?118 que9tion lt~i.ch h{i,S to be a.1wwerad by thic co'Ul't :i.s whether t~10 accused Gtru.Sed t11.0 death of the daoeased. !:Dhe accused 5.s no~ i:iha.ris,9d w.i.th~child rietJ,15.ng.--~refo..,..""'e-even if soo--s't.ole the chl.lcl :D.10m the mothe--.c :i.t .t ·\·, ·- \' ' •: . \ 'i ;: ·- matt·ars-little. .... -\· Section 203 of tho Penal Code de~-nes the t·erm 11 oau.si!€ death" to includat (dY "if by aey act or omission he b.aste:ns the death of ·a person ., suffering ··- u.nt;l.er a.ny··di.seMe :· .-·, or injury wh.i.oh apart~from such act or o::-1~.ss5.on would hew c~~d de~th. 11 It'· is not in di.simt'e-that the g..eoeased chi_i~a cl-i:ed 5.n the-hands of the • ., ., -: . I ~~d. ~cording to the post mor-t"om e.xami.na.t:i.of'l J.:-c:,01~t and acoordi.ng to the doctor, death~was aue ··to deb;ya.i~.:-.tion-ap.d stc?-ra.t5.ano ~~e doi:itor also o.x,plai ned that- the condi. t1. on 5. n which the l)ocy 1ra.s meant· th..1.t tl1e clr~ld l1a.d no food f'or

the le.ct 2t'.i 'ic:ro :x.c -;-~:::'..J. ·· ,, -a·.-- +: -::-··· .. _ . .:er-~"'.. 5 ,_ • ······~--mhe ,-;•.. . a:t_pla:nation-of tlio,:Jl()CUSed wn.s -flhnt tho ... cliild .. had been . \ yo~.ti?JG n.nd it hnd ditl.l!Chooo:,-nnd tho accused took tbo child to hospi tel t--i.r.i.ao. !hcrc-·was : howovor. no modico..l evidence 'to cst::-,hlish th.ct tho child \ wc..s tr.ca.tea nt ~ hospi tcl • ·\ ·All -ibroe n:sscsso~s found insuffi~ief..t-ov.1.do11cc to prove t119 cllo.rgc. m-ho f:i.x.st- gentlemen a.ssoosor concluded tmt tho chi.la. ua.s·"nOt of the ~ ' ' ' ; : .. .; i . : o.:l.loGPd mother a.s t'hc r..llococ1 tnothor fl.Over botho;'i09- to come to court·. J;Io op5.119d th.a.t thcro 1vns;n? ov.l.do11ca to sho1r tl:r.t the-n.ccused~m'.£} seen ,trldYJG tho child ~d ~thn.t tho fc.o~ tl.l.c.1.t the ncon~cclJJfo,ycd w±th-tho . ·; c:W.lg.. for owr a.-month . ohofroc1 ' ·\ th..'1.t '.- she 1'1."..a. no :i.::.rtonttz;fcof -: . . ki.lFflG . it' end tl-u,,t dobydrution nn.;t St'2..1.----vr-,tion wo,s ccv.Dotl. by vocti tine c..nd d.i.2.i.---rhoca. ··l!ho--:moond - -. c;cntlcman o.saosoo:r ttlso '. founcl no ov.':doncc ~- of o.,ccusod \ '\ stoc.J.:bJG the chi.Id, e,ncl ho fo1.,mc":. thc,t·_·clco..th wc.,s d.u.o to illl'lCBS< · •,• - - W'.1.10 ·.· -: 1not··2,oocssor . w~ df . . ..· no intcntj_on of t:.,_c' or.me v:i.eu- ru1.Cl ..: fotmcl. ldlltne tl:o chilcl on tho p~..:.:-t of tho

a,ccuood, but tl1C.t the child. d.iod duo to b::u.l luok:. Ari I snid cr>.:.r+icr on in t}'j_g :,Ucl,rimont, tho:ro :1.s no··truth :Ln tl:o o:omwOD.1 s.:-story tl1<.~t t:ho ohi.lcl1·o mother disc.pl)O~'Oc1 lonv:i.:rJG t110-·nccuscd . ' ... ' ' -. i ?i th tho ~le'..·_· I tho~fro.,c a_;ffc? wi tl-1 tho c.soossoro~ ~ccorc1..t11$ t'o tto v.n.".lysis~I I.'1000 on ~ho fcci!o~- tho M'C1J:s9cl 001..utt not lu,,vo got tho ohild 1..mG.Cr . tho circumstCl'l.ooa . . . wM.ch sho·1>orilr('.,yod :i.11 .her· ovidoncc o. She ~ could no~· hnvo got· tllo child by lnwful norum· bc?t;l.SC if-she bru.l, she would not have liocl ~o ovo::..~b~cy hmrsho hoi'.. Q'Ot t>.o clrl.lc.o - -i S:tnCO' sho hp.cl ilnkorn:. snc.11 clJ.ilt1 unclo:r ~lCZ'. CD.!'C she 11..1,c_ o.,-uuty .• . \ ',. to tnlm cG.t'C:or it. Section 195 of the Pcn."'..l Coco c:i.vcs tho dofin.i.tion of rric..nslr:uc;b.ilor os f ollowsi PfrW por~on uho ~ n.n u.;:llcwfu.l o..ct··ot or-1.5.ssion cc.uses tho·-e,ot,,tl'! . : : of c.notl\01• poroon i:J GU,~.ity-'of .. . tho :trolocy- onis~io~ t1.T:1ounttnc~to culJ?<,1.blo~nccl:i.conoo to diaohwc-o n. auty funcli.11[;-_"iio tJ:o 31::;:-oscrvd:i.011 of Y:fo or hcc:.1 th whctt.cr ' such . on~.oa~.0:1 . :i.o 0.1· -. is nct··c,cco,·'I>mri.ecl . . ~r ~ ·- mi intention to cc::uso doa.tl:··?r l)oc,Jly l~:::1-. '11115. .s oootion shoo.let be rcc..cl tocotI::.or with ncct:i.011 203 ( d) of tho Poml ©oclg.

1nio quoot:i.011 w'h.'ich l'lli.S to b9 nsko<;'l tn tho com"so of nnswo~inc 11hot1:.o~· the ri.ccusoc:l~cn.u.socl~tl:.e 9-o~th of tho docor,0ocl.. -io whether tJ;-01"0 1l'cz r.n OI!liosion on' the pti:et of··tho necu.soc'l 11h-i.ci1 lmstcnea. tb.6 c1oo..th of: ' . : . . ' \ tLo c1.~con.seu.. A1th5u£?h thci."O :to no noc15:co.1 -crv.5.clonoc o:r··thc chilcl havine 900n -~o..J.con to h~spi tr.1,~tl1e:ro · is o.lso·-no ov:i.cloncc thd tl;,e r..ocusec1 never took t_l?.c child t~ liospi t2.l, 1Jn,ioi.'O r.or.10..ins; 'i},iO~cfo:rc; c. reasofll)Jle doubt on.. 1d~otho:r or not tho 0ccus6c1..• .·; \ took the' chilcl to hos,itnl ... when it w~s sick., ·\' _ I.t'··io tJ.1.0 Mcusoc. who e;ct·s-t"hc hcl'¥'.lf:i.t..of··t110 c.lo...:bt. ~he1~cforo on ~Le ov-.c"..once o.,s ndc':µccd. there ~-s l10 ovic.1..onco to c::ou l'.i\t or1..i.sd_on c:::- i.:1c:ooc:. I . ,,, cm-unlo,lr.euJ. ,•: ,· Of.lission ar.iount:i.oo ; ' . to cull')cblc , , nocrl'te;_-pnoo : to discJ-:.G,r@ . ' \ C dutj. tend.in& ·= to tho rxroso.rvn:tion . ; ·\ . of li:fo or ho~tli. ·. --I ngroo~wi ., '•' . th-tho ' . gcmtlonon Qllsosso:rs thtlt thar.o ', ., . ovidcnoe is no . to osts.1Jlisli . . thp . ..t--thc ·, ncausocl . . ' on.used .. tho·a.oath ,· of tne ·', ch:tld ., lot· ol.0110 ot:ru.Sinc-doa.th ·: •, ,· w:i. th no.J.5_oo o.forcth0UJ11t. ~ I hold tmt tho o.ccused is 110t guilty M charged and I ooqui. t hor of tb.Ei char~. . . . . JUIXJE.· .•· 21/7/1994 Dalivorocl in courto . -- \ ·:.; Us L ~ . - Stn.to Attorney ~-• Gn:t1\.u\.,---O. for f-i.ecu.occle E. ~ JUJlJ]J, ~- 21/7/1994 A. BARA~ JUroE.:- ,· 21/7/1994 ,._ \ \ . ---+-· -t~~h V:· -·'·_).,C• 1 SENIOR DEPU!tY RilXL. S1R!Jt I1..Gil E!OURT .i

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Mobias Mzigo and Another v Republic, Criminal Appeal No. 44 of 1993

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Penal Code Section 195

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Penal Code Section 203

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