Repubulic v Charles Nyanchwara Okere [2019] KEHC 3104 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT KITALE

CRIMINAL  CASE NO. 39 OF 2011

REPUBULIC........................................................................................PROSECUTOR

VERSUS

CHARLES NYANCHWARA OKERE........................................................ACCUSED

J U D G M E N T

1. The Accused herein was charged with the offence of Murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.   The particulars  of the offence was that on the 7th day of July 2011 at Naisambu area within Trans Nzoia County unlawfully murdered SM.

2. The accused denied the offence.  The Prosecution called several witnesses to prove its case.  When placed on his defence the accused gave unsworn  evidence.  At the conclusion of the case the counsel on record were to file written submissions. Apparently its only the State that filed.  Nevertheless before analysisng the evidence on record and coming up with appropriate conclusion it shall be  worthwhile to summarise the evidence as presented during trial.

3. PW1 Mathew Charles Kipkeu testified that he was a retired teacher. On the material day, he alighted from a vehicle and was walking towards his home.  This was around 5. 30 pm. He saw a  boy and a girl beside the road.  The boy was  holding the girl's handbag.  After about  50 metres he heard some screams from the girl and on looking back he saw the boy holding the girl down and beating her.  As he rushed back the boy took off and run across the fence.  He told  one Peter  to go after him as he tried rescuing the girl.   She found her bleeding from the neck.  One Jeremiah rushed to get a vehicle but by the time it arrived, she had died.

4. PW2 Reuben Kipchirchir testified that he was  burning charcoal inside the farm when he saw a man  and a lady standing not far from where he was.  He greeted the girl. After about ½ an hour he heard screams. He rushed to the scene where he saw the boy siting on the girl.  He rushed  to help the girl but the boy took off across the fence.  He followed him towards the forest and with the assistance  of Elly and Peter they apprehended him.  They found the girl  had already died.  The accused was assaulted by the members of the public.

5. PW3 Peter Maina a herdsman testified that he saw PW1 passing the road while  herding cattle. He heard screams  from the road. He assisted in apprehending the accused.

6. PW4 PMis the father of the deceased.  He said in his evidence that he knew the accused who was a Pastor  to his wife and the deceased.  The accused had defiled  and impregnated the deceased.  He had been charged with the offence of defilement and the matter was pending in court.  The accused together with some members of his family had sought to reconcile but he did not accept as the matter was pending in court.  He was called at the police station and told of the said news of deceased demise.  He did not witness the incident.

7. PW5 Dr. Blastus Kundu from Endebes District hospital performed the postmortem on the deceased body.  He concluded that she died out of cardio pulmonary failure secondary to penetrate injuries to the neck.

8. PW6 Lawrence  Muthuri from the Government chemist produced his report which showed the blood samples on the knife  belonged to the deceased as it marched  the DNA profile.  The blood samples on the clothes  marched that of the accused.

9. PW7 Benjamin Kinono  from DCI Kitale scene of crime produced  the set of photographs  taken by P.C. David Kipchumba which showed the deceased body as well as the injuries she sustained.

10. PW8 Corporal Caleb Yator carried  out the investigations and preferred charges against the accused.  He recorded the witnesses  statement after visiting the scene.  He also produced the exhibit namely the clothes and the knife.  He was also present during  the post mortem exercise.  According to him the accused killed the deceased because of the defilement matter which was pending in court.

11. As stated earlier when placed on his defence, the accused gave unsworn evidence. He said that the deceased was his fiance.  He had proposed to marry her.  However her parents had refused for the reason that he was a Kisii man and the Kusii's were known witches and cannibals.  On the material day the deceased had looked for him and when they met she told him that since her parents had refused the marriage, she was going to take her life.  According  to the accused  she then pulled the knife from her handbag and stubbed herself.  In the process of saving her  he was knocked  unconscious and he found himself at the hospital.

Analysis and Determination

12. I have carefully read the proceedings herein  which apparently were heard by 2 of my colleagues.  There is no doubt that  the deceased and the accused were  persons who knew each other.  The accused stated that the deceased was his fiance.

13.  The incident took place at broad day light.  PW1 and PW2 clearly witnessed the incident.  They both testified that they saw a man and a lady standing  beside the road.  PW1 stated that the man was holding  the handbag.  Within a short  distance after passing (about 50 metres) he heard screams from the girl.  When he  checked, the man was on top of the girl assaulting her.   He rushed to help  and in the process he took off.   PW2 and PW3 assisted in arresting the accused from a forest.

14. By the time PW1 and PW2 arrived, the deceased was bleeding  profusely and she died on the spot.   She could not be taken to the hospital.

15. The cause of death was clearly consistent with   what PW4 found during the post moterm.  The DNA as found by PW6 clearly showed the blood sample on the murder weapon (knife) marched that of the  deceased.

16. I find the accused defence  wishy washy and holds no water.  Beside being unsworn hence of no probative value, the same does not  deny the fact that he was present  with the deceased that afternoon.  The explanation that she attempted to kill herself does not add up.

17. If she did so, why did  she have  to scream to attract the attention of the passerby namely PW1, PW2 and PW34?  Why would PW1 and PW2 find the accused on top of the deceased assaulting her?  More importantly why  would he take of and apprehended inside a forest?

18. If indeed she was attempting to kill herself then there would be every probability  that the accused would have been the one calling for help and he would not have  any reason of running away.

19. In the premises I hold that the prosecution have  established that there was malice aforethought by the accused.  The defilement matter   pending in court although the details were not brought forward was the reason for the  assault.  The accused knew that the act of stabbing the deceased, precisely on the neck would result in fatal injuries.

20. The allegation that he became unconscious was a white  lie as he was apprehended by the members of the public and handed over to the police.

21. Consequently, I find the case proved beyond any shadow of doubt.  The accused is hereby convicted under the provisions of Section 203 of the Penal Code Cap 63 Laws of Kenya.

Delivered, signed and dated at Kitale this 9th day of April, 2019.

_______________

H.K. CHEMITEI

JUDGE

9/4/19

In the presence of:

Mr Omoria for the State

Arunga holding brief for Samba for Accused

Accused – present

Court Assistant – Kirong

Judgment read in open court.