Edward Kaoma Kibango v People (SCZ APPEAL No. 15 of 1994) [1994] ZMSC 173 (18 October 1994)
The appellant was found in possession of the stolen vehicle and a pistol shortly after the robbery, and the circumstantial evidence was sufficient to uphold the conviction under the doctrine of recent possession. The confession was not relied upon for conviction, and failure to obtain fingerprint evidence did not...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [1994] ZMSC 173
- Parties
- Appellant: Edward Masonda; Respondent: The People
- Court
- Supreme Court of Zambia
- Jurisdiction
- Zambia
- Case Number
- SCZ APPEAL No. 15 of 1994
- Procedural Posture
- Criminal Appeal / Judgment
- Outcome
- appeal dismissed
- Legal Topics
- Aggravated Robbery, Confession Admissibility, Doctrine of Recent Possession, Fingerprint Evidence
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Edward Masonda
Appellant
The People
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the confession was properly admitted and relied upon
- 2 Whether the doctrine of recent possession was correctly applied
- 3 Whether failure to obtain fingerprint evidence was fatal to the prosecution's case
Ratio Decidendi
The appellant was found in possession of the stolen vehicle and a pistol shortly after the robbery, and the circumstantial evidence was sufficient to uphold the conviction under the doctrine of recent possession. The confession was not relied upon for conviction, and failure to obtain fingerprint evidence did not prejudice the case.
Court Disposition
appeal dismissed
Orders
- conviction and sentence of death on each count affirmed
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
tM TMI SllPRffll coosrr 0, ,Vt!!!-' &,p. DEIATUJS,UA . «.• (CRINliW. JUIISDICTIOI) 1£T :ll l£1U ) J • I .... a,v-, Of»M· CIIAHO _....,. -· ·--TIEPGIPU : ' ' ' I . .. -·· Corllll ,.,..,.. CllaUa ad -~ • ., •• ~. .. ..: \ ·:.. .: ·:. .· UNI ~ •t ttM ,af· l8tb Octobll"• -19N:. '\: ~ For tflt Al)Dttlltnl; ~. A. L. «aa&11. _0l~tor of Utal Aid 1or U. ldliGCldllltl If. JluuU, : S. Olcr, Slete AdfC;IC•&e · '-· ,· . . . : / \.. } •I . ·QS!'!£!M!l9r, . (0 WOSA U1 MD AIIOtHP Vt . THE PIOPU tt8f ~R. ,t :·. ~ . · Tai.. IPPtl lPt ,u con,.cttd-. ot . , . , HCJ. .aqr1vated -~ . . . . • ' • i , \ f • • • • ' •• .; ' . ;· . .. . Contrary to Secttons200 tnd 2J4 . ~JHl¢~twtlJ of ~tt'lal tide., Cep:. t•G of tM l,I~ of ZMbtt •A<l·HAtenad Oft 11¢1\ ~' ,to···~ by hlftOIQO. ":•• TM Hrtlc-.lari o, tbt a,,~ •. ·•· ~ 1 ...... tbli ·ldward ·laou llbt0go, on. ;thf 18th •11 qt Apt11, tlt1' at . . , • . in tbt ~ola : 11•tr1~ or the eop~l* Pro. I~• er th• · . . . ua ot Ztd>ta dl4 ~,,. iLJXO Plt.. E'HOE •nis oa (OU4t 2 VtWe W•t tdJfard KlGQ iu,."110 1'lth ot.fter pmons unknowi1, OIi tbe 1flh da, ot Aprt ~, _ t~Jt tt:'."°l• Jn t.llt Mtlola Oi1tr1ct. or tht COl)pel'i>t1., l'N'f11)(9 ot ~ Republic. of z.ablt \1olntly . oncl wM lit ac:tfng tetgothet' tdtb Q\btl" O-f$0ft_S,··~ • ~I 1st .,_4 with a pistol did rob EJ1ko Ptltllbe of his oae-aoto~ Yeblcle f'IOGlS~tton 1Co. ACC.1Z91 Toyot• ttUux valUld at · 1.8 ellllon tnd at ori t.-dt_.;t•Jy before or laedl1.ie11 etter tt,1 it• or . - rol)bery· ~A~ . .1:11• or· tm-eattce to UH .&ctual l'l91tnet to Ch. l•ld. IUko '•ltllbtt l1i"Ot'dtt' to obttln or . . .-.uln tJlt llld p~r.tJ,,., :,-.;-·;. . ,.,,, ,~ ~. ·.··:•:,,,, ... :: ·,::,:r:_,,.:;:iU '· J • ._.._ '.. •• ~ 11.:,!, r • , 1., •• 1,;, \pl'••· t., . . . , ., '_. . . '" -, •r .. , ~l ~ ,; • • •r(tl 1'? ~" • HI hll now IPJ)ltltd ~ ~·· eo1rt·a;•1Dtl·~,tC'tl• 001,. 8r!et17 CM- proncullOI (lit -Wal ·w,· lM--decustd ftl •lo,14 by z.bla ,11tftf1 IOCW. S.rvlce .-1, .. a drlv•r• t!f1 18th Aprll, 199 n~ was on nlllhl shlf\. Around 01.10 flours · b,i 411d ,w.1. Cows 1u1el1 drov1 to PHOd.d ~ . tn Ndolt and ¢oUe:td. • relte.r ~tk.er Pw.2, Hr. £iron ~J)'I. _,,,,_ ~ they <ln>Y• .tc, K1w• Cor1poumfto C9U~t •-. fiJ.t. Edward Mttsoada. At Munnd••ca boue U..-dtc:rffsd was snot ft he ' :.:,•~ '··· . . · ••. " '1 . ... ,. ' , • j' '"' • :,'~ ,. ~ •· ··.' t, • • • • , ·•• .• • '> • (. I ,' •• • I • • - • I ... ' . t 42 t NYerStd Ule •tor ••t"l•t a TO,VOCA lttla VMtel .. Ret• t:o. ACC .. 1291t PW11 t and. a Jumped Mt or ·the· veJJlclt lll4 raB aw,,... the ro!>Nr» thtn ,UI ltd tJ\e dtcff&ed out or tftt ~Jtl•· IOI Jato thl· VOltJ• tnd- drov• owq .. Ar~fld 04.lO hours or tttenebout.s ~ c,ptllut· vat eaugttt .ltt ChlChelt Pltntattott MAI'- UJ• bardf, .,, .. Zllrt ., PU., ... , .. ton.1hl Cal•t> lulu tnd PW.4, I ,r&v1t• soldltr. t.1 then-. of YJctorLlhta. At i.,e , -~ ti• the tppel lant tlld 1 _plJtol. TIit appel l111r. ~ ltd ,w._3 and 4 .cross • f'ltlWlf Ullct w.ltbht Cb.lentll ~lautton ,o tfte ltoltft lll)to, veMClt. Ke lat.er ltd P. W.7 9ttrsc-t Mangoi:w•• tbe 1.-,.stlftl ornetta- to tilt aten. or . crime. Under wam 44d caution w ~Uant ade ~ sh~t whidl was ot>Jecttd. to~ :t. M at'Offfid or duNSJ " ' delltld lo •vtctonce aft.tr• trtal wUh14 ltlll was Ul4., . ·-..i--?"" tn hl'I dtrence on ••VI tbt ~Uani dented bOttt dll~.- He Slld Q bd Corlt to ~11tll bo.rder to br.s, e1stot11t. COIIIIOditln. 1ltat •boGt soo ••m froa tAI bordtr whUe' st.tU ltl ZttN N.2 IOPl"f~ hi• .net took bl• to ,1rat1tlUt•r1 PoUct ta Cblaatle Pltnhlllft alld liter to Clli fu})u Pol let $Cell~, . . ... . . . .... . ' • ' ; ~ • • I •,',, / \ • f' • • •. • ~. •.:.:,• ~• ·.~ l , ·. , , .. . .. . ,: ,. , Tilt epi,ul lrat argued on tmM -'dlUonti._ Or.ouMI~ W. 1dJl · ~:,. . . , .. ,~: •,; Tk ttral tf'OURd WU that the thin leamed ttlal eo.t~ltoner .. fltat dltl wtth gt.'Olmd t then 3 ~ t f1Utd to Ult fds dt1¢rttlon to •~C'l- ·ll'lo alltged contesstan ttblch ·. Ql>frat.d tnJudlc:t-aUy 1t•i41\ tbt tppetlul, ln ~,~ ., ~·• ,toUnd.,. tt ••• •reutd l)y ""· K~ ·that ·llt.hOUUh: ~~ .,,,.u:ut~, . . Mt, :: _··>::: •abJect.4 to J)hy•tcal torture 1•t ·tile ' " ' treat be "4fi1'•ld tn-costod, tor f he 01s before ~ stoned lite tUeged conres,ton. G1111t bm &Qduced Ill• to JUkt tht ROft,.ssl• Jnd t.nrore: thlt Ult letfflld ·trtll C-1► llontr ibould UYe txtrclnd. llll d(ICNIIOII and ••c:lcrdt· the conte1•ton. That tet lur• to. .. do so counted to •· •••~UrectJoa • . Jn: •sldtrJng tiiis Orouod of a_p"al ~ •~ we heva tta_tntd· ~ .v-s~nce on l'e(Ord, . Ult tvUltG •• - ·utal CtMlssloner. Titlt alleged <onf111ion "'' obJ4l¢ted IO on tlle _ground trlal wUbtlll tti••: ~nd th• '~ " ' ,, tM *' ltVRd tb&t th, OJ>pelUnt'wu proiaalaed t~t 1, be-~- ·tbl .itatttRltftt he ,.ould be t•ten :to cwrt Md .re11,se<rrN)IIJ 1:Ql~Jili 1 ·ta 11J.1: "Uttt ~ -lt1t"Md ltltl CcfMlflliOMt cUd flOt conildtr ·tt.ts t~ml. lM-t.id be tMad .. lnd fltld at pqt 14 or tht r11C<>td tDt, W cooteUlo.1 . .lh~t. obJte\ed to by the appelldt -was I dtrt'erent St4t$4Jnt and not ~ ~S. Ubj.t\,·Of 'ttte prooodJngs l>efore ht• and on that trouftd, 1dalUed the· confe,sl-on. There · ls oo ~ t thertt-,r• th. It be m1sdlrect4(1 ~lualt. · ~d he consldorad the •JectlOR ht •1Q1't blYft , .,·. to • ditfe~t ~ -lu.slOJt, : HGwtvtr~ lt Is . ·''r"' ' • . t ' , • • . , : a qtd t.e t:J.-ar ,,. l:\ts Jud~\ Wt tM learnl:4 trltl Coalallliontr d!d not f'ltly on th contu,1·f0t1 '° COClt "CO hll ¢CfflC1'1. U'PI. ·r.tte 11>,aUut --·· t~refc>tt not ptlJudlctd In any ~I)' o, tht ·ec1$1Ul0ft Of t.ht-tl ltge,d Cot>ft$1109. lhil I~ · tllVGfON r tUI•· ta. ~lrd ground was tbat no, ,,aa-, trtnu •ra r1&sed ,,_ th• , ,, •• ,. tnd tt\t IIOtot feh!C·I• ,o_ tonatet the tpptllat to u.. cba,-,. •• ~lng th-la trmmd Hr., ICtboagl said ttaa't tht Pot&c• lhOUlf bave .rtUl<l ::;-. tinter prints froe tht ,1,1o:1 w 11etrl-a ..,_, or lbl 1tol• motor · , -· Vdldt. Tt_t•t reUate to dO· •• ~C.d to -dertllctlon of duty Oft t.htf~ ,art. 13 Co«IS1WIBa \hll tNUnd Ind t~ilBllat ft aote tftat tltll !•sue ••• 11ever r•Jttd tn ttrt court Mtow.. 1, ts btU11 r,u.., ;t>tron- vs ,.,. the tlrJt tt••· nus. was-.t-1-Propar, ll'ld •• -.ovld dm CWMtl •• ,tt.enll<Nt t4 thts court•• dec:tslon ta V.. ~,,. ,, K1pos1 Mou and Aflotlle, Uh at 91g• " • ,.._, -6'tore tt-en Clll llt • datt u,oa &111 ,.uo•·to tut'°' l&11pr ,rbata ttiete .... ·l)e fllftdCI tll&t \Ifft •ttl47l• lt ¢Ut$tlM.hd surfaces NCep"lt•. to- rtng,, a,rta11. ·lo ·ro~ ••Sdeno'e ••• e1UbU1!\ed la thlt c,st. l~' -,_,., t••'~ lh. "PP•lllffi q,s • • dropplog tbt pJs.~ti_, _, PllflJ •nd 4. tner, wu tht,._.retN no -aeed to ·uti flOIM' prtnu ,,_ · 1M' ,ts'4)1,._ l'llll ·~ ~~ . . llto f-dl~ ~. \ •• u . . , 1 . ,.. ;,- . ; . • ' . . I . • - 1 • •. .t:.,, • •i..., "-=t' _ .... ' ~ I I ,.. t<T -t • • • • TM ~ ground ~ that ~ wtt"M ~1~~ _ llnt J , . ' . . conn.cttAO \M Jppel lnt. ._ tb~ WO dta,ot, .. . n.. «rglllftt OB thlJ ~~ vat ttllt tM ••Jd•• ~tat the aptJtllMt w11·c1ramwau11~ ·n•~ no Me•••~ •J>pellant __,, tht._..<r~•-••atot•uotorWhi.c:lt. Tit11 pe>ss•.1ilot1 ., \M ,tatol tlld ttela.t' rower "1t1Jlh tat ¥1C1nlty ~, tht 1toleo 110tor ,ttuc:1,. iflt no, a1tl:t¢teet to connect::;; ih• appallat tc; tht cberot,. r.oteover. -uaa\ tht '41Uei. vilCb iUltd tbt dKefstd v-aa · n.~er re¢OvtJ,tGd _, tMr•fil,. _, prov.d t.hat. · 11 llf.lS t.iNd ttoll the pts~l aU~d11 found oiJ ""- ,ppel)1nt+ th l;rft 1h11 there WIS tlO cUroct e,tdeoce •o•JttJ't ~ .ai>peU•nt. · Tfllt 1'9 ·•v-l~ 1g1lnst. bl• WIS utaly (tr"atst. S_tantJ.tl. In b:(S Judgosent, tu learned trt&l CoMU. SlOllf foand ttJ.st tflf •'"llant va, fc,und wltll u. •~tea. CJIOtOP vtlllC.lt • few f'JJAUU» arter lt-hld bttn atolM tnd ·I. Mn ~H•·* 4oc.trl•· or ~ t po1s,a11on to .,....tvt at nas COIIC'luatona,. w.. bave -.-11194 the "ldtnct on rteord and It JJlowl: ttllt tht rolber., iool PIIC~ -~ 04.00 b®rs ' oa 1ev.. Apru. tfft ad » atnuiu •r 1a :taw tJ>t ~ne, 1'1a •PP~ tq Cbt-"'tl• ,1,ntatlon. Ne bid I :Nltol: and led .» •. , Ud .. , to th4!-vtbtcl• am,ss tr.. re.llv4y· ltn. •lthfl Ql .... 1• Pl.in\itlon .. . Off . ,. tneM facts ve ie~ 101 that ~ ttfflMd ·.tr.t•l c...isstoner •Sadtmtec i,i•self 1ft tpplylng tM ·doc\rlM or ... ~ , l)Olllit_.on. nu, iroilfld tlSO . ,.-u,... · . · · -~-I. . . . · •-! . • . ' . . :'-- ( ,_: ·'J4/-. •• -·.:. . .' : , for t1'te- font,~1ng NISON wa would disallJ the tPJ)ltl ~•~•t eoravtctton and ttlent btlsi~ ao exttnORlQi cl~ttnets • ~•fl..,. th• .sentenffs or 'cfetth cm tach c-,t. ' •' ·······~·····~~-•··~ . . ... , .. . •: " ' ... .. I , ' ( ' I : : ...... ,1, • • • · . ' ~ .. ~:~~ ~ ' ,' .. S, ...