Godfrey Wanjala Juma v Republic [2013] KEHC 1127 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT BUNGOMA

CRIMINAL REVISION APPEAL CASE NO. 150 OF 2011

[Being an appeal from the judgment in Kimilili  SRM court criminal case No. 437 of 2011]

GODFREY WANJALA JUMA .................................... APPELLANT

VERSUS

REPUBLIC.......................................................... RESPONDENT

JUDGMENT

The Appellant GODFREY WANJALA JUMAbeing dissatisfied  with both his conviction and sentence filed an appeal. He  was charged with  the offence of robbery contrary to Section 296 (1) of the Penal Code.  That on the night of 25th April 2011 at Kamusinga village in Chebukwabi location in Kimilili, Bungoma District jointly with others not before court robbed Michael Wanyonyi Wafula of a bicycle make “RELI” frame No. V14268 worth Kshs. 2,800/= and immediately before  or after the time  of the robbery threatened to use actual violence to the said Michael Wanyonyi Wafula. There was an alternative charge of handling stolen  goods contrary to section 322 of the Penal Code.  He pleaded not  guilty to  both counts.

Summary of the prosecution evidence:

The prosecution called 4 witnesses in support of their case.  PW1, Michael Wanyonyi Wafulawho was the complainant testified  that  he reported to work on 25th April 2011 at 6. 30 p.m. He worked for PW2 as a night gaurd.  At about 11 p.m, the rains started pounding the area.  While patrolling, he saw 8 people in the compound who wanted to know whereabouts of his employer.  He told them she was in the house and subsequently, they  ordered  him to lie down.  Shortly thereafter, they left the home and he discovered his bicycle was missing.  He immediately woke up his employer and informed her of the incident. The employer (PW2) adviced him to report the incident to the police.

The next day,  while on his way to report  the incident to the police he met the Appellant and another person with  his bicycle.  He arrested the appellant and took him to the  village elder. PW2, Electine Kisiangani confirmed being the employer of PW1. She also confirmed PW1 woke her up at midnight to inform her that  some 8 people  had gone to her home.  PW1 informed her that  his bicycle was missing and she advised him to report the matter to the police the next day.  At 7. 00 a.m, The next day, PW1  called her that he had met a  suspect with his bicycle.  She went to the scene and helped PW1 in arresting the Appellant whom they took to the village elder.

PW3is the son to PW2. He gave similar  evidence as PW2.  He was informed of the incident at night by PW1.  PW4 the police officer while on  duty on 26. 4.2011 at about 9. 30 a.m recieved  the Appellant and the bicycle brought in by the complainant and members of the public.  He arrested him. He identified the bicycle before court which he produced as exhibit P1.

Appellant's  evidence

The Appellant  gave unsworn  statement and did not call any witness. He testified that he lives at Chwele. On 25th April 2011 while going to  work, he  boarded a vehicle to Kimilili. After alighting, he requested a lift on a bicycle to Shikendu. On the way, they met a person (the complainant) who stopped them saying that the  bicycle was his.  The rider ran away.  The appellant was taken to the village elder where he later  learnt the bicycle was  robed.  He did not  know the bicycle.

Was conviction safe

PW1 saw eight people in the compound at about 11 p.m.  The  people  descended  on him demanding that he tell them where his employer was.  They ordered him to  lie  down.  He was not injured.  Later he discovered his  bicycle was  stolen.   He did not identify any of the  thugs. Section 295 of Penal Code which is the descriptive part of this offence provides thus;

“Any  person who steals anything and, at or  immediately before or immediately after the  time  of stealing it, uses or    threatens to use actual  violence  to any person or property  in order to obtain or retain The  thing stolen or to prevent    or overcome resistance to its being stolen or retained is guilty of  the felony termed robbery.”

At the time PW1 said the  thugs descended on him, he did not have his bicycle. Infact he does not  say where the bicycle was throughout his evidence. The thugs  only asked the whereabouts of his employer and thereafter left.  It is after they had left that  he discovered his bicycle was missing. It is inferred from the evidence on record that  the force used  if at all was not to obtain or retain the  bicycle. The prosecution did not prove the intention of   force used was towards obtaining the bicycle. It is  always the burden of the prosecution to prove  its case beyond reasonable  doubt. In the instant case, there was also no proof that the eight people were armed.

On the issue of  identification, none of the prosecution witnesses identified the Appellant at the scene.  PW2and PW3 were  alerted of the incident after the 8 people had left.  PW1 said he did not identify any of them.  The trial court had  no basis at all to link the Appellant to the robbery.  The conviction was therefore  not safe on count I for the offence  of robbery.

This court has powers under section 354 to subsitute the conviction for the alternative charge. Is there evidence to convict the appellant on the alternative count  of the  charge of handling stolen property contrary to section  322 (1) (2) of the Penal Code?

PW1on his way to report the incident to the police, met  the Appellant with the stolen bicycle in company of another person. He positively identified the bicycle  as his. He was not satisfied with the  explanation given  that  it was purchased. He does not say whether it it is the appellant or the person who ran away who gave this explanation. He arrested the Appellant and took him to the village elder. The Appellant  in his defence  told the court   that he  requested a “lift on a bicycle then on the way a person appeared stopped them  and told him that it was his.   The rider ran away.”  The learned Magistrate found this defence “as  cheap merely intended to save the accused's skin.”

The burden of proof always rest with the prosecution.  PW1admitted he met two people  with his bicycle. He did not say whether the Appellant was the rider or  the  pillion passenger.  He admitted  one of the two people ran away.  The Appellant gave an explanation  that he was merely  given a lift and it is the   rider who  ran away.  I  find  his  explanation  that  he was   given a lift and it is the  rider who ran away as believable.  He said he did not know  the bicycle was stolen. It was incumbent upon the prosecution to prove that the appellant knew the bicycle was stolen. PW1does not  indicate if the Appellant  attempted  to ran away like his colleague so that guilt could be inferred on his behaviour.  In my view the fact that he did not run away  strengthened his assertion that he did not  know the bicycle was stolen.  I  therefore find that there is no basis for me to  convict the appellant on the alternative charge.

In conclusion, I find the appeal is merited.  I hereby quash the conviction and set aside the sentence. The Appellant is set at liberty forthwith unless  lawfully held.

JUDGMENT DATED AND DELIVEREDthis 14th day of October    2013

A. OMOLLO

JUDGE.