Republic v Kilimo [2024] KEHC 8439 (KLR)

Republic v Kilimo (Criminal Case E051 of 2021) [2024] KEHC 8439 (KLR) (10 July 2024) (Sentence)

Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 8439 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Eldoret

Criminal Case E051 of 2021

RN Nyakundi, J

July 10, 2024

Between

Republic

Prosecutor

and

David Rutto Kilimo

Accused

Sentence

1. The accused was convicted on his own plea of guilty of Manslaughter contrary to Section 202 as read with Section 205 of the Penal Code he was accordingly convicted on the offence. The brief facts were that the accused on the September 1, 2021 he assaulted the deceased by inflicting multiple injuries to the neck, upper and lower limbs, the back, the right scapula. The postmortem report indicates that the deceased died of heavy bleeding as a result of the injuries sustained to the neck and the back. In the case of Francis Karioki Muruatetu V Republic 2017 eKLR the factors to be taken into account in sentencing include:a.Age of the offenderb.Being a first offenderc.Aggravating factorsd.Mitigation factorse.Whether the offender pleaded guiltyf.Character and record of the offenderg.Commission of the offence in response to gender-based violenceh.Remorsefulness of the offenderi.The possibility of reform and Social re-adaptation of the offenderj.Any other factor that the court considers relevant e.t.c

2. Although these factors may be conflicting in nature by their very definition and application, it is expected of the trial courts to keep a fine balance and endeavor not to under estimate or emphasize anyone of them. From the plea agreement prepared pursuant to Section 137 (A) –(O) of the Criminal Procedure Code and the accused evidence in mitigation follows by the submissions on aggravating factors, I sentence the accused to a custodial sentence of 8 years which has also factored the credit period served in pre-trial detention. That period has already been discounted in this final imprisonment sentence the accused is set to serve from today’s decision.

DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT ELDORET ON THE 10TH DAY OF JULY 2024In the Presence ofMr. Oburu for the AccusedMr. Mugun for the State………………………………R. NYAKUNDIJUDGE