John Wanda V Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 37 of 1998) [1999] UGCA 6 (2 August 1999)

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\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \line IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA \line HOLDEN AT KAMPALA \line CORAM: }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 HON. MR. JUSTICE C. M. KATO, J. A. \line }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 HON. MR. JUSTICE G. M. OKELLO, J. A.; \line }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 HON. MR. JUSTICE J. P. BERKO, J. A. \line }{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 CRIMINAL A} {\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 PPEAL NO.37 OF 1998 \line BETWEEN \line JOHN WAN}{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 DA::::::::::::::::::::::::}{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 ::::::::::::::::::::APPELLANT}{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \line AND \line UGANDA:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::RESPONDENT }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \line }{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 Appea1 from judgment of the High court \line (Kania J.) in Criminal Case No. 63 of \line 1995 at Mbale) \line }{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2580501 {\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 JUDGMENT OF THE COURT }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \line }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 The appellant was on 30}{\lang1033\langfe2057\super\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid2580501 th}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 March, 1998 convicted of murder by High Court (Kania J.) sitting at Mbale in Criminal Session case No. 63 of }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid2580501 1995}{\i\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 and was sentenced to death. He now appeals to this court against conviction and sentence. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6824699 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 The appellant, a Local Defence Unit (LDU) askari, was on the night of 11/9/93 on patrol duty at Nampanga \lquote A\rquote village in Mbale with two of his colleagues and a Local Council Secretary for defence for the area. They arrested a suspect who claimed to have been staying at the deceased\rquote s home. When they reached the deceased\rquote s home, they called him out of his house. Upon ascertaining the identity of the appellant, the deceased came out}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 followed by his wife. The wife, Constance Masumba, (PW1) carried with her a lit hurrican lamp. From outside, the appellant held the deceased by the hand and led him a few meters away from the doorway towards the ki tchen and there without any exchange of words between them, shot the deceased shattering his both legs. On seeing that the appellant had shot her husband, Masumba picked a stick and struck appellant with it on the hands. In pain, the appellant dropped dow n the gun and fled. Masumba picked the gun and took it into her house. Thereafter, she returned and carried her husband also into the house. Shortly later, the village Council Secretary for defence came and threatened Masumba to hand over the gun to him. S he did and he went away with it. The deceased died later that night from the injuries he sustained from the gunshot. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 The following day, the appellant and his two colleagues were arrested and jointly charged with the murder of the deceased. The village Coun cil Secretary for defence was meanwhile lynched by the angry mob. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 At the trial, the appellant\rquote s two colleagues pleaded alibi which the trial Judge believed and acquitted them. The appellant who admitted causing the death of the \lquote deceased, set up self-defence, provocation and accident as his defences. The trial Judge rejected all his defences and convicted him. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 There are thre}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 e grounds of appeal, namely:-}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 1.\tab}}\pard \s15\ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar \jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid6824699 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 The learned t}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 rial Judge erred in law and in }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 fact when}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 he disregarded the charge and }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 caution statem ents tendered in evidence by the pros}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 ecution in determining whether }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 malice afo}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 rethought had been proved. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 2.\tab}}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 The learned}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 trial judge was not justified }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 in disbelieving the appellant\rquote s version of \line the events leading to the death of the deceased and in choosing to believe the }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 complainant\rquote s version instead. \par {\listtext\pard\plain\s15 \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \hich\af0\dbch\af0\loch\f0 3.\tab}}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 The learned}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 trial judge in evaluating the }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 evidence misdirected himself on the fact \line of this }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 case and therefore came to the }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 wrong conclusion that neither self-defence \line nor provocation were available as a defence for the appellant. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2580501 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 Mr. Stephen Mubiru, learned Counsel for the appellant on state brief, argued ground 1 separately and grounds 2 and 3 together. The thrust of the complaint in all the three grounds come to one point that malice aforethough t was not proved beyond reasonable doubt. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 Mr. Mubiru criticised the trial judge for failure to consider, in his judgment, the charge and caution statements tendered in evidence by the prosecution. In Counsel\rquote s view, had he done so, the trial judge would have found that the appellant\rquote s defences of self-defence and provocation were strengthened. \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6824699 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 We agree. The trial judge never made any reference in his judgment to the charge and caution statements that formed part of the evidence before him. He ought to have demonstrated in his judgment that he considered them. The effect of the charge and caution statements is that there was an attack on the appellant by the deceased with a panga which prompted the appellant to shoot the deceased on the legs. This was b asically the same with the appellant\rquote s unsworn statement before court where he repeated that there was an attack on him by the deceased with a panga though that the panga missed him and landed on the butt of his gun. The deceased then grabbed the muzzle sid e of the gun with a view of removing it from the appellant. lii the ensuing struggle, bullets went off accidentally shooting the deceased. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 We think that the appellant\rquote s unsworn statement before court together with the charge and caution statements should have been considered together with the testimony of Masumba to determine whether or not there was malice aforethought. It is a settled principle of law that a trial judge must look at the evidence as a whole before deciding a case. As was stated by the de funct Court of Appeal for East Africa, in }{\b\i\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 OKETHI O}{\b\i\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 KALE & OTHERS VS REPUBLIC [1965]}{ \b\i\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 EA. 555 AT 559, }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 it is fundamentally wrong to evaluate the case for the prosecution in isolation and then consider whether or not the case for the defence rebuts or casts doubt on it. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 The evidence of Masumba as to the circumstances which led to the shooting of the deceased read as follows:}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid2580501 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \'93Some }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 people c}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 ame at 10.00 p.m and called my }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 husband. He responded, rose up. I }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 asked him if }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 he knew the people who had called him. He said he knew them. I went with him and he opened the door. He went out and the person who had called him took him by the hand and led him toward the kitchen. I saw the man but it was night I could not identifSr him}{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 . I followed them to the place }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 where they ha}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 d gone to with a hurrican lamp }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 and I heard somebody by the road say \'93wuwa\'94 in Kiswahili, meaning kill. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 Immediately 1 }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 heard a gunshot. It is the man }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 who had taken my husband toward the kitchen who shot. My husband fell. Then a person from the road side said \'93Wanda come and we go.\'94 I got a stick and hit the hands of the assailant and the gun dropped to the ground. Before my husband died, he told me to take the gun into the house and to return to assist him.\'94 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2580501 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 Then in cross-examination Masumba said: - \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid2580501 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \'93 When my husband told me he knew the persons who were calling him in the night he did not disclose to me their names. When my husband went out he had a pair of trousers on and was bare chestHe had a panga in his hand There was no argument between my husban d and the man who led him toward the kitchen. I did not hear him say anything to my husband nor did my husband say \line anything to him.\'94 \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2580501 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 The trial judge believed that piece of evidence. \line } {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid2580501 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 We think, with respect, that Masumba did not tell the court the who le story regarding the circumstances which led to the shooting as there appears to be no reason for the killing. She did not want to talk about the fact that her husband came out anned with a panga. That fact came out only in cross- examination. The reluc tance of Masumba to talk about the panga lent credence to the appellant\rquote s claim that he was attacked by the deceased with a panga which prompted him to shoot the deceased on the legs. Besides, Masumba did not even raise an alarm for help when her husband wa s shot. Instead she kept him in the house until he bled and died before she started wailing. Her conduct after the shooting appears to us that there is more to the shooting than t meets the eyes. Indeed if the appellant had intended to kill the deceased a s Masumba portrayed, there would have been no reason why he did not shoot him at the vulnerable part like the chest or the head. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 Though motive is irrelevant in law, in a criminal prosecution except in some special exceptional cases such as, prosecution for Libel if a defence of Fair Comment or qualified privilege is raised, but motive is always useful since a person in his normal faculty would not commit a crime without a reason or motive. See: }{ \b\i\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 Godfrey Tinkarnalirwe and another Vs Uganda, Cr. Appeal No. 5 of 1998 (SC) unreported. }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6824699 {\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 In our view, the existence of a motive make it more likely that an accused person did infact commit the offence charged. In the instant case, there was no motive or reason for the murder. That has created a doubt in our minds regar ding the intention of the appellant to kill the deceased. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 On a full consideration of the evidence, we have come to the conclusion that malice aforethought was not proved against the appellant beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we find merit in the appeal. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 In the result, we allow the appeal, quash the conviction for murder and set aside the sentence of death. Conviction for manslaughter is substituted. Sentence is reserved pending address from Counsel for both parties. \line }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 Dated at Kampala}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 this day 2}{\lang1033\langfe2057\super\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 nd }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 day of August 1}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 999. \line }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 \par C}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 . M. KATO \line }{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 JUSTICE }{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 OF APPEAL }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \line }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 G. M. OKELLO \line }{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 JUSTICE OF APPEAL }{\b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \line }{ \b\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 \par }{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892 J. P. BERKO}{\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \line }{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid14578892\charrsid14578892 JUSTIC}{ \b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid14578892 E}{\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 }{\b\ul\lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 OF APPEAL. }{ \lang1033\langfe2057\langnp1033\insrsid6824699\charrsid6824699 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6824699 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\fs24\insrsid14750223\charrsid6824699 \par }}