19901016 TZHC Mtwara
- Citation
- 19901016 TZHC Mtwara
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Tanzania
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 16 October 1990
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- TZHC
- Decision
- 16 October 1990
- Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that the building was broken into and a bag of maize was stolen. The maize was sufficiently identified as the stolen property by the presence of chalk pieces. The doctrine of recent possession was properly invoked as the maize was found in the appellant's house a few hours after the theft.
Court disposition
Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence upheld
02
Material facts
Parties
Republic
Respondent Counsel: Mr. Jjorexa, State Attorney[Name not provided]
AppellantAmounts and remedies
- Sentence: years 7
03
Procedural history
Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the conviction for breaking and entering and theft was supported by evidence
- 02
Whether the doctrine of recent possession was properly applied
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The appellant argued that no police officer visited the scene, there was no evidence establishing breaking, and the bag of maize found in his house belonged to him. He claimed the pieces of chalk were planted by teachers while the bag was in his house.
- Respondent
- The respondent argued that the evidence from school teachers established that the school was broken into, the lock was missing, and a bag of maize was stolen. The maize was traced to the appellant's house, and the presence of chalk pieces, which teachers had mixed with the maize, identified it as the stolen property.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Common law
Doctrine of recent possession
- 02
General criminal law principle
Proof beyond reasonable doubt
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that the building was broken into and a bag of maize was stolen. The maize was sufficiently identified as the stolen property by the presence of chalk pieces. The doctrine of recent possession was properly invoked as the maize was found in the appellant's house a few hours after the theft.
Court disposition
Appeal dismissed; conviction and sentence upheld
Source and reliance status
TZHC · 16 October 1990
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
TZHC
Judgment· 16 October 1990
--·-.,-•-· ,. :JT T.TJ IIICG crn.r:.T OF' T~':.J:I3...:JIT.:.. I I .L:J>EJL,:.m .T:rc~J)::cTIO~~ :7•,. .' ,ri:-r COID.T .c:.?.:C.D::.:,:~L -~.PP:JJ.Ji no. 141 OF 1990 ~ . .1 ..... .l.l,. o:: IGTIT.:.:;:, CJ.JJ:i:~-~'L O."S:J no. 21~ OF 1989 1)" T~:J D:I::: 1.r·.:,:c;r_;_i ::o·:,:··.T W' iv;_:,S!~SI DIST;1ICT I TIID :I~?G':3LIC. •a•• e O • o O •. o O e O .R~srm ):li'TT + •· ....... ....,._._ - J1XDCEii:TT ..... i~,_l,• The a.ppaJ.J.01t, 1'iiL:i.aL1 ,:.ceci.:i., ,rc,o corrvicted by the c; ist...'i"iot court at Maaa.s~,. f' b1"02,~ .nc; into o. build.il,.3 n'li.l stealing. IIo was· :.entonccd to seven yoo.."C's 1,tprisQru1ont.- He :.s ap1,ocJ.i1:.c; i:.'...·.:·.L•.st tl:o convicticn r.nc1. se11tcnce. 'Iha evidence f-01" '';he proGoci.::.t:.611 u;:.-B ~:i::i.~ici'ly tll2.t a J,:dmr::~,y school a.t 1Tamlrun.oov.l. vil.l.a,ec wc,s 1.11?oko:n into, 2.nd 0:10 b2,g of maize wcs stolon f:rom tho r:rt;o::;>o• Ji. soaJ:•ch pt,zty cons;.Lstin:. o2 Z(:~wol tee.,.'. ,3rs o.nd v:1 Ho~o:;.~s followed a. footpath on which iiW,izc ':c:.d d:-..'o)::ct cJ.J. t:10 1-:s:J f:rom tho sc:1001 up to the appellant 11' ·h.ouoo. Tho llouso w2vs rJcci..:.'~:'.od in tho· pi-csonco oi' tl1c ap)?Gllant, and n bag •f w,izo was found. ~-as:i.c}.o ·r 1.c '.10uso; Tho to&cho:rs ·:'.clcnti:f'ied the be,cr et ~ o fl"'Om the fa.ct tlw,t -:i:i:..c:.'o u•,E'O J:)iocos of ohaU: w::,ich -~he toachors had put ~side the
:).;_g and mi:-J:cd it i!i t:,. t:10 maize. Tho 0..ppcJ.:; r-nt cl lo god ~ that tho ln,g of n1<.,j.zo found in hin honr.:o belonged to him, ani ".i:.::.ht tho p:toees • ! • Qf chaJ.k were put in tl10· bv.,:; by t::.o to.-1100:;-;•s while they wo-ro in -c::w appolla.nt•s 1., u.sc. I ~ trial W-GistJ~£;to boliOirod ·Lo :.1:::osocu.tion ui tncssos a.no. l.'cjcctcd ~ d.ofonoo. Tho o,p1,cllru1t· stc,tcs i1t ·t:10 noroo:ra'l.d.um of appoo.1 thc..t dnco 110 polioe officer visi tad tllo sccnn, tho:::o ~·:i.·. G ;,10 o,ridoncc which ostablisho-1 breaking; llo should roalizo, however, that t:10 cn--:i..clonco that tho school uas broken into waa established li~~ tl10 prosecution 1rit;.100:::os uh.o testified. Those uorc tho; •chool tor,chors, p1·r.1 .f.JJlOS /J.bo:i:t, r>::-.2 Ht.1ssa Chitambo Md 7tf.3 Ali'.Chipanda. T'.i.1.osd witnesses said thc.t t~103r fo1.u1e: ·c~~0 loc!t on tho door ,ms r.ti.ssi1g ·nllon thoy ~J.)O:i:itod for work on tho mo:r·nillG of 11 ,Tt'!.i:10, 1909. Tho dOOj;' ;.12.d i)MJl broken, mu }ho lock 11T',S l'Omovod. The t::ic-.1 nc,:_.ist1•ri.tc boliovod thc:-,t evidence* I£ ~o J?Q:U~ officer 'lront to tho scone, ·f.).c;!; c"...oos not mo8..n that thc~:-o ims ~10 'breaking.
I I I l
I I I ThQ ovidonco p:i:'Ovocl !)(:Yond :rocso:-:.r.~;J.c C:.01.:~jt t~.12,t the bu.il~ wr,s b:rokon into, and thc:;;-o 1ras cl.so t:,.oft of· one ~)FG of r:.;,:.i.:30 f: m tho store lrb.oao doo,:- we.a '!Jj:'Okcn. 'J.r,10;.~c ·we:.s no rJ.or{,t 111'.D,tsocvor -c'.::.:·t ·v..:,·: ': :; o1 mn.izo found ill t:10 appolla.nt•s houso ,-rc.s tho one 1:~:.,J ch 'iir s stolon :.:::on ·0:1_._j sc:.1.ooL J;Iaizo !1.~ dl->oj_ipcd on tho 1m;;- fz-oni tho schoo]. ;o tho q_:i:08J.:1.. m1t 1 s :101.'.so. li'urt\01"tnoro, the ,·ii•t~16ssos fourtd obalk mixod w1tl1. t>.c rnldm L1 tL·~ ~.;::. T::.c:-:o Has o·rid.oncc thc,t tl:.o tor.ohors hacl put fa,;1 pioocm of c.l.1.2.J.y'. L,. oJ.:'.. t: -~- '. :--;:,o of m21-i:,c ,:)olonginc to tho. school. T'Jlo u.pl)Ollv.nt 's al,](; , ·.tio:.1 t>c.t t: .,:. ·i;.: - ::;: .o:. c :.:o.d cv..,i.'.-: ioc~. cllo.lk to 115. s houso, c.ncl t:1cy :put t'.20 u: .cJ.): 5.tl ·i/,.() hcc o:':' : ;j_: iO fol.·:j_1cJ. 2,t t ,c c..:p::;iollo.li.t 's house, wa.a . :i:-ojoctod a.s tho::-'- ur,G no :..~oi:".son fo:-: ·i;;_lo tx,c~,.c:,:-s to de , t::..c:-,t. Lil:c tho trial mr,.::;ist:cato, I tind -t:1.c.t t;:10 br,.e of nv:.i~;o ·m:,s mi.fficion :':..y idcnti:c'iod o.a that wxl.ch wr..s stolon f~;or11 t:.o :school. T..,o c~oot::-L10 of :i:-cc:.1.t possoss:i.oi.1 wes p1'0l,)Oj;'ly invoked., 2.0 t:!.:: i:ltizo s;ruJ ;Zo~:;.1cl ].:1 -;;: ~o :c,p1)oll~ 11t • s house 2. fo·w bours on:t;/ a.ftor the ·t11oft. ' T::o c,1y,clJ.[;.;.1t ~~- ;:; ::;i:..'o:;_:>orl;/ corr-.r: ;ctod of t:,.o off<moo ?{ m2.nifostl::. ,; oxoossivo as to wci-:re.nt \ M'l'i·T.!:,.i;l.ti. 16th Ootobo~t 1990 Mr. JJ;roxa, Stt-,to l.1.ttoj'.'11oy, fo:.: tl::.o J.,:;1mblic l..ppolJ.~,nt a1)sont. ., I
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