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Ogwendi & another v Republic (Criminal Appeal 45 of 2019) [2022] KEHC 11989 (KLR) (22 June 2022) (Judgment)
Neutral citation:
[2022] KEHC 11989 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
Criminal Appeal 45 of 2019
KW Kiarie, J
June 22, 2022
Between
Dennis Otieno Ogwendi
1st Appellant
Victor Ochieng Ogwendi
2nd Appellant
and
Republic
Respondent
(From the original conviction and sentence in Criminal case No. 210 of 2019 of the Principal Magistrate’s Court at Ndhiwa by Hon. V.K Kiplagat– Resident Magistrate)
Judgment
1.Dennis Otieno Ogwendi and Victor Ochieng Ogwendi, the appellants, were convicted of the offence of grievous harm contrary to section 234 of the Penal code.
2.The particulars of the offence were that on January 6, 2016 at Pala Koguta location, Ndhiwa sub county of Homa Bay county, jointly did grievous harm to Markphas Otieno Midada.
3.They were sentenced to serve forty years imprisonment. They have appealed against both conviction and the sentence. They raised the following grounds of appeal:a)That the learned trial magistrate erred in law by failing to find that the key witness Nicholas Odhiambo whom the trial court relied upon is a brother to the complainant who could not testify against him and at the same time was not an eye witness hence the court relied on hearsays.b)That the learned trial magistrate failed in law by not finding that the case was not properly investigated because the officer did not visit the alleged scene of crime.c)That the trial court erred in law by failing to find that the admissibility of the blood stained clothes as exhibits was a violation of the law since the investigating officer did not identify them in court as required by law.
4.The state opposed the appeal through Mr Ochengo Justus, the learned counsel. The following were grounds of opposition:a)That there was overwhelming evidence against the appellants.b)The appellant’s actions of running away after committing the offence were inconsistent with their innocence.c)The appellants’ further actions of absconding court and trying to escape to the neighboring state of Uganda during trial was inconsistent to their innocence.d)This was a case of recognition, the offence happened in broad day light, there was no mistaken identity.e)The medical officer who examined the victim concluded that the degree of injury as grievous harm. He further testified that the injuries were permanent and affected the normal operation of the complainant.f)In cross examination the appellants alluded to the fact that they were never consulted in the money that had been lent to their mother and hence the victim was not supposed to ask about the money. Impliedly they were justifying their actions attacking the victim. Their actions cannot be justified for the mere reason that they were not involved when their mother was loaned the money.g)The maximum penalty for grievous harm is life imprisonment. The sentence of 40 years considering the circumstances under which the offence was committed is proper or in case of interference of the sentence, it should be enhanced to life imprisonment.h)The conviction is proper. The sentence should be enhanced to life imprisonment.i)The appeal should be dismissed for lack of merit.
6.This is a first appellate court. As expected, I have analyzed and evaluated afresh all the evidence adduced before the lower court and I have drawn my own conclusions while bearing in mind that I neither saw nor heard any of the witnesses. I will be guided by the celebrated case of Okeno vs Republic [1972] EA 32.
7.It is erroneous for the appellants to allege that the learned trial court relied solely on the evidence of Nicholas Odhiambo Midada (PW2). Certainly this was a witness who went to the scene after the fact and testified as to what he saw and what the complainant told him had happened. This witness testified that when the complainant called him on phone and told him what had transpired, he ran fast and on reaching near the complainant’s home, he saw the appellants who were near the home.
8.The complainant (PW1) in his evidence testified that when he was discussing with the mother of the appellants how she was going to pay back a debt she owed him, a disagreement arose. This is when the two attacked him with a machete among other things. He fainted and did not know how he reached his home. When he regained consciousness, he called his brother Nicholas Odhiambo Midada (PW2) on phone. He was taken to hospital thereafter.
9.It is settled law that a fact can be proved by the evidence of one witness. In Kiilu & Another v Republic [2005] 1 KLR 174 the Court of Appeal held:In the instant case the offence complained of took place during day time and these were people known to each other. I therefore find that there was overwhelming evidence against the appellants.
10.Section 234 of the Penal Code provides as follows:Any person who unlawfully does grievous harm to another is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.
11.It is trite law of practice that an appellate court can only interfere with the sentence meted out by the trial court upon satisfaction of some circumstances as were spelled out in the case of Nilsson vs Republic [1970] EA 599,601 as follows:
12.I have evaluated the evidence on record. The appellants were first offenders. Though their action was uncalled for, I find that the sentence was on the higher side. I am persuaded to interfere with the sentence meted out. I set aside the sentence of 40 years imprisonment and substitute it with a sentence of 20 years imprisonment. This is the extent to which their appeal succeed.
Delivered and signed at Homa Bay this 22nd day of June, 2022KIARIE WAWERU KIARIEJUDGE
