Republic v Mwendwa & 3 others [2024] KEHC 8684 (KLR)

Republic v Mwendwa & 3 others (Criminal Case 19 of 2020) [2024] KEHC 8684 (KLR) (18 July 2024) (Ruling)

Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 8684 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Embu

Criminal Case 19 of 2020

LM Njuguna, J

July 18, 2024

Between

Republic

Prosecution

and

Fredrick Murithi Mwendwa

1st Accused

Jane Wanyaga Njeru

2nd Accused

Feranjia Muthoni

3rd Accused

Sarah Mbuya

4th Accused

Ruling

1. The accused persons face the charge of murder contrary to Section 203 as read together with Section 204 of the Penal Code. Particulars of the charge are that on 09th October 2018 at Ciambugu village, Riandu location in Mbeere North sub-county within Embu County, the accused persons murdered Stanley Irungu.

2. The accused persons took a plea of not guilty and the same was duly entered. The case proceeded to trial and the prosecution called five (5) witnesses and then rested its case.

3. This court is tasked under Section 306 of the Criminal Procedure Code, with making a ruling on whether or not the accused persons have a case to answer and whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case. The provision states:Section 306 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code:“When the evidence of the witnesses for the Prosecution has been concluded, the court, if it considers that there is no evidence that the accused or any one of the several or any one of the several accused committed the offence shall, after hearing, if necessary any arguments which the advocate for the prosecution or the defence may desire to submit, record a finding of not guilty.”

4. The court in the case of RepublicvsAbdi Ibrahim Owi (2013) eKLR, defined a prima facie case as follows:“‘Prima facie’ is a latin word defined by Black’s Law Dictionary 8th Edition as, “sufficient to establish a fact or raise presumption unless disapproved or rebutted”. ‘Prima facie’ is defined by the same dictionary as “the establishment of a legally required rebuttable presumption.”

5. In other words, a prima facie case is a rebuttable presumption that the accused persons is guilty of the offence. This is the position held at Section 211 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Further, in the case of Ramanlal Trambaklal Bhattvs.R (1957) E.A 332 at 335, the court stated as follows:“Remembering that the legal onus is always on the Prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, we cannot agree that a prima facie case is made out if, at the close of the prosecution’s case, the case is merely one in which on full consideration might possible be thought sufficient to sustain a conviction.” This is perilously near suggesting that the court would not be prepared to convict if no defence is made, but rather, hopes the defence will fill the gaps in the Prosecution case.……there is a case to answer depends only on whether there is “some evidence, irrespective of its credibility or weight, sufficient to put the accused on his defence”. A mere scintilla of evidence can never be enough; nor can any amount of worthless discredited evidence. It may not be easy to define what is meant by a, “prima facie case”, but at least it must mean one on which a reasonable, properly directing its mind to the law and the evidence could convict if no explanation is offered by the defence”.

6. Nevertheless, where the court is not acquitting the accused person, there is no need to give a deep reasoning in a ruling for case to answer. The case would have been otherwise where there was a submission on ‘no case to answer’ as the court would have been required to give its reasons for considering that the accused has no case to answer.

7. I have considered the evidence by the prosecution in its entirety and it is my considered view that a prima facie case has been established. The accused person has a case to answer and is therefore put to his defense.

8. It is so ordered.

DELIVERED, DATED AND SIGNED AT EMBU THIS 18TH DAY OF JULY, 2024. L. NJUGUNAJUDGE…………………………… for the State……………………………1st Accused person……………………………2nd Accused person………………………3rd Accused person………………………….4th Accused person