Owori John Martin v Uganda (Criminal Appeal No. 297 of 2003) [2007] UGCA 13 (14 June 2007)

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)}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \s22\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f36\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f36\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 297 OF 2003 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par }\pard\plain \s18\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f36\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 OWORI JOHN MARTIN ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: APPELLANT \par }\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f36\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 VERSUS \par }\pard\plain \s4\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel3\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f36\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 UGANDA ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 (Appeal from Judgem ent of High Court at Tororo before Hon Lady Justice Faith Mwodha dated 20}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 th}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 March, 2003 in Criminal Session Case No. 264 of 2002) \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 CORAM: \par }\pard\plain \s6\qj \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel5\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f36\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \tab \tab HON JUSTICE G. M. OKELLO, JA

\par }\pard\plain \s3\qj \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel2\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f36\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \tab \tab HON JUSTICE A. E. N. MPAGI-BAHIGEINE, JA \par \tab \tab HON JUSTICE S. B. K. KAVUMA, JA \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par }\pard\plain \s2\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f36\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 JUDGEMENT OF THE COURT \par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par The appellant, Owori John Martin, appeals to this Court against sentence only. \par \par He was indicted for the offence of manslaughter contrary to }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 Sections}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 }{ \b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 187 and 190}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 of the }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 Penal Code Act}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 by the High Court at Tororo. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 20-03-03. \par \par The sole ground of the appeal is that the sentence is harsh and excessive in the circumstances of the case. \par \par The facts were as follows: \par \par On 19-06-2001, the appellant and the deceased who was his son went out for a drin k. At around 9.pm, the appellant returned home alone. He was served food by his wife Awino Consolata. Soon thereafter the deceased also returned and he too was served with food. \par \par After eating, the deceased asked for ground nuts for roasting, which were given to him. He roasted them in the appellant\rquote s house. After sometime the appellant asked the deceased to leave his house and go to sleep in his own house but the deceased refused and continued roasting groundnuts. \par \par The appellant\rquote s wife and mother to the deceased grabbed the saucepan and threw the deceased out of the house. As the deceased tried to pick the saucepan and groundnuts, the appellant picked a hoe and cut him on the head. \par \par As the deceased groaned in pain, the appellant\rquote s mother called some people f or help. The appellant started fighting them as well. The deceased died soon thereafter. The appellant was arrested and tried at the High Court at Tororo. At his trial, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Hence this appeal.

\par \par Mr. B wengye who appeared for the appellant submitted that the appellant was a first offender, which the learned Judge acknowledged. He had been on remand for one year and eight months. He was aged 53 at the time of sentencing. He was 57 at the hearing of this appeal. He has served 3 years and 11 months of the sentence and this, coupled with the period spent on remand, makes it 5 years and 7 months in custody. \par \par Learned counsel asserted that the period spent in custody was sufficient. He has reformed. He is repent ant having killed his own son. Learned counsel asserted that a heavy sentence would lead to double jeopardy. In his view, a sentence of 4 years would be sufficient, considering his advanced age of 57. \par \par Ms Joan Kagezi, Learned Principal State Attorney, poin ted out that the offence of manslaughter carries a maximum of life imprisonment but the appellant only got 10 years which, in her view, should be confirmed. It was a correct sentence considering the appellant\rquote s cruelty and recklessness. She prayed Court to uphold it and dismiss the appeal. \par \par The learned Judge observed: \par \par }\pard\plain \s19\qj \li806\ri1109\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin1109\lin806\itap0 \b\f36\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \'93 Since the convict is a first offender and has pleaded guilty therefore has not wasted Court\rquote s time, he is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment taking into account the period he has been on remand.\'94 \par }\pard\plain \qj \li810\ri1106\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin1106\lin810\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 This Court can only interfere with the sentence if it is illegal or manifestly too harsh or inordinately too low. \par \par }\pard\plain \s21\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \f36\fs32\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 Under the circumstances of this case where a father killed his own son, he pleaded guilty and was very repentant, we consider a prison term of five (5) years and seven (7) months, representing the period he has been in custody, a sufficient punishment.

\par }\pard\plain \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par He is entitled to an immediate release unless lawfully held on another charge. \par \par Dated at Kampala this}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid220798\charrsid1602462 14}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid220798\charrsid1602462 th}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 day of }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid220798\charrsid1602462 June}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 2007. \par \par \par \par }\pard\plain \s5\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel4\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\f36\fs28\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\f0\fs24\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 HON. JUSTICE G. M. OKELLO \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par \par HON. JUSTICE A. E. N. MPAGI-BAHIGEINE \par JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 HON. JUSTICE S. B. K. KAVUMA \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2387718 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid2387718\charrsid1602462 JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }}