Justus Nyangi v State [2015] KEHC 5771 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT AT MIGORI

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 15 OF  2015

BETWEEN

JUSTUS NYANGI ………….............................................. APPELLANT

AND

STATE ………................................................................. RESPONDENT

(Being an appeal from the original conviction and sentence in Traffic Case No. 70 of 2015 at Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court at Rongo, Hon. J. Mitey, RM dated 26th February 2015)

JUDGMENT

The appellant was charged with the offence of causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 46 of the Traffic Act (Chapter 403 of the Laws of Kenya). He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment.  He now appeals against the conviction and sentence.

The issue is whether the guilty plea ought to have been entertained by the learned magistrate. Learned counsel for the State, Mr Owenga, concedes that the plea was equivocal and that the appellant should be re-tried.

The particulars of the charge against the appellant were as follows;

On the 6th February 2015 at around 7. 00 am at  Riinya along Awendo-Riinya Murrum road within Migori County in the Republic  of Kenya being the  driver of a motor vehicle registration number  KBA 530T Isuzu FRR drove the said motor vehicle along the said road  dangerously and without  due  care  to  other road  users and hit a motorcycle registration No. KMDM 600F Bajaj which was ahead of  him killing the rider namely  ELIJAH ONOLA  OZUO  aged  24  years  on  the  spot.

After the charge was read and explained to the appellant he pleaded guilty and the following facts read to him;

On  6/2/2015  the accused at around 7:00pm  was  driving  motor  vehicle registration No.KBA 530T Isuzu FRR lorry along Awendo -  Riinya road which he claimed was dusty and could not see  properly,  he knocked a motor cycle Registration No. KMDM 600F BAJAJ  Boxer ridden by Elijah  Onola  Ozuo, who as a result died on the spot.

The driver of the lorry did not stop and the accident was later reported to the police who visited the scene and made their investigation on ground. On a follow up, they arrested the accused. While  at  the  scene  of  accident  the  body  of  the  late  Elijah Onola was taken to Rapcom centre mortuary where postmortem  was  later  conducted.

The police drew a sketch plan on the scene of accident. Later the motor vehicle KBA 530T was subjected to inspection and the motor cycle as well.

I wish to produce the postmortem in respect of Elijah Onola as P exhibit 1, sketch plan of scene of accident as exhibit 2, together  with the legend.  Certificate of examination in respect of motor  vehicle KBA 530T Isuzu FRR No.VTA 763460 as exhibit 3 and  certificate of motor cycle registration KMDM 600F Bajaj Boxer No.VTA 763461  as  Exhibit  P4.

The  police  upon  investigation  formed  an  opinion  that  accused  was  careless  in  his  driving  thus  causing  the  death  of  the  said  motor cycle rider.

Section 46 of the Traffic Act provides as follows;

Any person who causes the death of another by driving a motor vehicle on a road recklessly or at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public......... having regard to all the circumstances of the case including the nature condition and use of the road and the amount of traffic which is actually at the time or might reasonably be expected  to be on the road shall be guilty of an offence whether or not the requirements of Section 50 have been satisfied as regard that offence …...... [Emphasis mine]

A perusal of the facts which were read by the prosecutor do not indicate the manner in which the appellant committed the offence; whether he was driving too fast in the circumstances or how he was reckless.  He did not demonstrate through the exhibits that the appellant drove the vehicle recklessly or that he drove it at a speed or in a manner which was dangerous to the public as required by the provisions of the Act.

Furthermore the facts as read show that the appellant claimed that the road was dusty and that he could not see. This is a relevant factor in considering whether the appellant was reckless. In short the facts do not disclose the offence with which the appellant was charged and the plea was therefore equivocal.

As to whether this is a proper case for retrial, I take into account the fact that someone died as a result of the accident which occurred on 6th February 2015.  As the matter is recent, witnesses are still available and the appellant would not be prejudiced by a trial.

The conviction is quashed and sentence is set aside. The appellant shall be re-tried and for that purpose the appellant shall remain in custody and shall appear before the Senior Resident Magistrate Court at Rongo on 8th  April 2015 for taking of plea.

DATED and DELIVERED at MIGORI this 7th day of April 2015.

D.S. MAJANJA

JUDGE

Appellant in person.

Ms Owenga, Principal Prosecuting Counsel, instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutions for the respondent.