Foro Yahaya V Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 2 of 1998) [1999] UGCA 9 (12 May 1999) | Murder | Esheria

Foro Yahaya V Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 2 of 1998) [1999] UGCA 9 (12 May 1999)

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\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \line IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \line CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 24/98 }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 FORO YAHAYA}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 APPELLANT \line }{ \ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 VERSUS }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \line UGANDA}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 RESPONDENT \line (Appeal from ajudgement of the High Court of Uganda \line at Masaka (Mr. Justice V. R. Kagaba) dated 8/7/98 in \line C. S. C. No. 83 of }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid16406664 1995)}{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \line }{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 CORAM: }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 HON. MR. JUSTICE S. T. MANYINDO, DCJ; \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 HON. MR. JUSTICE S. G. ENGWAU JA; \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 HON. MR. JUSTICE A. TWINOMUJUNT, JA. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 JUDGMENT }{ \ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid16406664 OF}{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 }{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 THE COURT }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 On 23.9.93 the body of 70 year old Maria Namuna, hereinafter called deceased, was found lying in a bush near the place where her cattle used to graze. It had two cut wounds, one on the scalp and another on the abdomen. According to the medical evidence th e cause of death o}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 f the deceased was hypotocemic }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 shock due to the cut wounds. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664

\par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 The appellant was arrested the following morning in connection with the murder of the deceased. He was subsequently charged, tried and convicted of the murder of the deceased, c ontrary to section 183 of the Penal Code. \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3288927 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 He was sentenced to death. Hence this appeal against the conviction and sentence. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 The prosecution case against the appellant was that on 22.9.93 he went to the home of the deceased, lured her into going with him to the grazing place to see one of her cattle which he claimed, falsely, that it was sick and that when they reached that place he raped her and then killed her lest she reported the rape. He later verbally confessed to the murder to Paulo Sabiti PW2 and Stephen Twahika ( PW3) and also made a written confession (exhibits P3 and P4) to Assistant Inspector of Police Samuel Kato (PW1). \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 At his trial the appellant made his defence in an unswom statement. He was silent about the day of the incident (22.9.93) but stated that on 23. 9. 93 he was in the search party of PW2 and PW3 and others when the deceased\rquote s body was discovered. He denied having killed her. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 In convicting the appellant, the trial Judge relied on the cirumstancial evidence of how the appellant had tricked the deceased to go with him on the fateful journey, the confessions to PW2, PW3 and PW1, the evidence of PW2 which was to the effect that the appellant had led him to his house and shown him a panga which was hidden under a bed and the evidence o f PV that upon the discovery of the decomposing body of the deceased, the appellant had tried to run away but was restrained by the people around. The appellant\rquote s defence of denial was rejected by the trial Judge. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 The appeal is based on one ground only, na}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 mely:-}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \'93 The learned trial judge erred in law and in fact in holding that the inconsistencies in the prosecution\rquote s }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 case were minor, hence wrongly }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 convicted the appellant.\'94 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 On the available evidence there can be no doubt that the deceased was murdered. There was no eye witness to the killing. The convictio}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 n of the appellant was based on }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 circumstantial evidence and the confessions he i& alleged to have made to the police and to PW2 and PW3. The circumstantial evidence which tends to incriminate the appella nt is, first, that of Turyahika (PW3), a grandson of the deceased, who claims that on the fateful day at about 1.00 p.m. the appellant went to their home looking for the deceased. The deceased was not at home then. PW3 asked the appellant why he wanted th e deceased. The appellant replied that she had promised him a job, of thatching a house. The appellant went away promising to return later. Indeed he returned an hour later. The deceased had not returned yet. The appellant waited until she returned. The ap pellant then told her that one of her cows had collapsed near a dam. He did not allude to the alleged job of thatching the house and, surprisingly, he had not informed PW3 about the cow. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3288927 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 The appellant and the deceased then went away together to see the cow while PW3 went somewhere else to water other cows. PW3 returned home at about }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid16406664 5}{ \i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 p.m. The deceased had not returned. PW3, who was only 20 years old at the time, went to the home of the area Local Council Chairman (PW2) and informed him about the disappearance of the deceased while in the company of the appellant. As alread}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 y pointed out, PW2 mounted a }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 search on the following morning which led to the discove of the body of / the deceased in a bush. It was the evidence o}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 f PW3 that when the body was }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 discovered the appellant who was with the search party, tried to run away by moving backwards but was told not to run away. He was then arrested. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 The testimony of Paulo Sabiti (PW2) was that following a report he received from PW3 he organised a search for t he missing old woman. He even went to the house of the appellant and took him for the search. When the body of the deceased was sighted PW3 immediately complained that she must have died at the hand of the appellant. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 PW2 then asked the appellant to show him the deceased\rquote s cow which was alleged by the appellant to have collapsed and died but the appellant stated that there was no such cow and that in fact he had taken the deceased to have her dress repaired and not in connection with a cow. At that juncture PW2 decided to take the appellant to the police in connection with the death of the deceased and informed him accordingly. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 It was then that the appellant is said to have made a clear confession to PW2. The evidence of PW2 on the point reads as follows: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664

\par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \'93Foro told \lquote Ekisirani kyankutte omuntu nemuta.\'94 Translated into English - it means: \lquote Bad luck came upon me and I killed her\rquote . I asked Foro what reason for killing that old woman - told me he first had sexual intercourse with her. After I had done that thing to her I knew she is going to accuse me. I will then be arrested. That the deceased pleaded with Foro not to kill her. Th }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 at she would give him (Foro) }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 whatever he wanted but spare her. Foro told me that the deceased gave him 8,000/= in order that accu sed may spare her life. That he (Foro took the Shs. 8,000/= but still kill}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 ed her because he knew, if she }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 was alive, she would report him and he would be arrested.\'94(sic). \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 The appellant is}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 then said to have led PW2 to his (appellant\rquote s) house and shown PW2 the panga which PW2 took away. The panga was handed to the Police by PW2 but for reasons which are not clear, it was not exhibited. It should also have been examined for blood tests. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 PW3 who was present when the appellant spoke to PW2 stated as follows: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \'93 The body was found at 11.00 a.m. on Thursday 23/9/93. Foro then told Sabiti in my presence and hearing ( a metre apart) that he was the one who killed that person. Sabiti asked him why he killed her, Foro said he had raped her and when he realised she wa s to report him, he decided to kill her.\'94 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 On 27/9/93 the appellant made a statement to the Police at Masaka Police Station, under charge and caution. It is exhibit P3 (Luganda version) and exhibit P4 (English translation). At the trial the defence challen ged that statement on the ground that the appellant had made it not voluntarily but after he had been beaten by the police. But after a trial within trial the learned trial judge was satisfied that the statement was made voluntarily and that it was true. It was accordingly admitted in evidence. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 In that statement the appellant gave a somewhat different story of the event. He stated in part; \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \'93 I did not commit murder. It is KAPERE who killed her who was bought by }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 ZIDOLI MUHAM}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 ADI who stays at Lwemusibya village. I recall very well our father MUCEZANGALO MUSITAFA gave }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid16406664 5}{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 cows to the deceased to graze. Our father died in February 1993 and left the cows with the deceased. After the death of our father, we demanded our cows from the deceased but she refused. M y elder brother then prepared to kill her. He told me of the preparation. I also gave him go ahead. Thus he bought that who killed him(sic). That is all on 22/9/93 my elder brother told me to be present to witness the killing after giving the money.(sic). KAPERE went with the woman and I followed him. Reaching on the bush KAPERE cut the woman with a panga once on the right side of the stomach. I also boxed her once on the same side. She fell down and died. We went back home.\'94 \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 The appellant\rquote s unswom stateme nt of defence states thus; \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \'93 On 23/9/93 I was at my home cultivating at 10.00 a.m. Kabundigiri Abdu called me to accompany him to the house of the Chairman - Sabiti (PW2). We were many people who assembled there. Twahika (PW3) was among the crowd. Sabiti a sked Twahika where the old woman had vanished. Twahika told him she vanished yesterday. That they had not found the deceased at home when they came from watering the animals. All of us decided to mount a search for the deceased. While we were searching we heard an alarm raised by another group who were searching. I went to where the alarm was being made. I saw the body of Maliya Namuna. People started crying. Someone out of the crowd called my name out. Sabiti, the Chairman, asked me if I was the one who ki lled that person as he had been told by her children. I denied causing the death of that person. I told Sabiti that we had all answered the alarm. They decided to take me to the Police. I was taken to Sembabule Police Station. That is all I have to state. \'94 \line }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3288927 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 At the hearing of the appeal Mr. Eric Muhwezi who represented the appellant argued that there were three contradictions in the State case which were major and thus vitiated the conviction of the appellant. The first was that the alleged confession to PW2 and PW3 was in contradiction with that made to the Police in exhibits P3 and P4. The second contradiction was with regard to the discovery of the pana from the appellant. According to PW2 the appellant led him alone to his house and gave him the p anga but according to PW3 the panga was found in a bush 10 metres from the scene of crime. It was the appellant who showed the panga to PW2 and PW3. The third contradiction according to Mr. Muhwezi was that according to PW3, when the deceased\rquote s body was discovered, the appellant tried to run away whereas according to PW2 the appellant did not do such a thing. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 With respect to Mr. Muhwezi, we see no serious contradictions in the written and oral confessions. Clearly in both confessions the appellant admits ha ving participated in the killing of the deceased. The only difference is that to the police he did not allude to the rape and also named two other parties to the killing. In both confessions he cites a panga as the murder weapon. In any case these so call ed contradictions lie not in the evidence of the prosecution witnesses but in the statements of the appellant. They do not therefore affect the credibility of the prosecution witnesses. \line Again we cannot agree that PW2 contradicted PW3 as to the conduct of t he appellant upon the discovery of the body of the deceased. Clearly the two witnesses were testifying about two separate events or occasions. The evidence of PW2 on the point was to the effect}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 that PW2 and others went to }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 the house of the appellant on the mornin}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 g of 23.9.99. They found him }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 digging in his garden. They asked him to join them in the search for the / missing Maria. Appellant agreed and went w}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 ith them. Later PW2 arrested }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 the appellant after the discovery of the body of the decease}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 d and following}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 complaints implicating him with the demise of the deceased. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 According to PW2 the body of the deceased was discovered not by his team but by the group comprising, among others, PW3. And so PW2\rquote s statement that: \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \'93Accused did not try to ru n away, either at his garden or after his arrest.\'94 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 does not seem to be in contradiction with that of PW3 that: \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \'93 On discovering the body, Foro who was with us tried to run away.\'94 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16406664 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 In fact the evidence of PW3 was simply that the appellant tried to fall bac}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 k }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 which led some of the people around to think }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 that he was about to run away. }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 We do not think that these matters which }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 were not even put to the trial }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 Judge were of any consequence. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3288927 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 We agree that the versions of PW2 and PW3 regarding the panga cannot be reconciled. The trial judge addressed this inconsistency and attributed it to the lapse of time of about five years from the date of incident to the time the witnesses testified. As the trial Judge pointed out, the evidence regarding the panga was of little value, if any, as it was not the prosecution case that that panga was the murder weapon. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 The Director of Public Prosecutions did not send a State Attorney to argue this appeal although they were served with the hearing notice. But even without hear ing of what the Director of Prosecutions would have said to us, we are satisfied that the evidence against the appellant was ovet.whelming. PW3 \lquote s unchallenged evidence as to the events of 22/9/93 clearly shows that the appellant took the deceased away on that day under false pretences. He gave PW3 two conflicting reasons for wanting to take the deceased away. He gave a third conflicting reason to PW2. The appellant was the last person to be seen with the deceased before she died. Her body was discovered i n the direction where she and the appellant had gone. In our view the confessions of the appellant to PW2, PW3 and the police put the matter beyond any doubt. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid16406664 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 It is not necessary to establish the motive for the killing. But in this case the appellant state d the motives although he gave a different one in the separate confessions. That was his decision. The deceased was killed in a brutal manner with what must have been a lethal weapon, given the injuries she sustained. She was assaulted on vulnerable parts

of the body. Her assailant(s) must have either intended to kill her; if not they must have anticipated death as the probable result of the assault. Therefore the killing was done with malice afore thought. If the appellant was with others in committing th is act on the deceased, then he would still be liable on the principle of common intention. \par As the trial judge rightly observed the defence of provocation was not available to the appellant. There would be no basis for the defence of self defence either. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 In the result, we find that the appellant was rightly convicted as charged. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 The appeal is dismissed. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159 \par DATED at Kampala this 12}{\lang1033\langfe2057\super\langnp1033\insrsid15022159\charrsid15022159 th}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159 d}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 ay of May, 1999. \line \line }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid15022159 S. T. MANYINDO}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \line }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 DEPUTY CHIEF }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid15022159 JUSTICE}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \line }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 JUSTICE OF }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid15022159 AP}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159\charrsid15022159 P}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid15022159 EAL}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159 S. G. ENGWAU}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159\charrsid15022159 }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159\charrsid3288927 JUSTICE OPPEAL}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159\charrsid15022159 \par }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid15022159 A. TWINOMUJUNI}{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \line JUSTICE OPPEAL \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid3288927\charrsid3288927 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid3288927 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid14750223\charrsid3288927 \par }}