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Case Law[1991] TZHC 2014Tanzania

Republic vs Juma Mussa (Criminal Sessions Case No 2 of 1987) [1991] TZHC 2014 (7 August 1991)

High Court of Tanzania

Judgment

,._ I

  • 23 - 'If1ID UlTITED TIDPUBLIC OF 'JJli.1:IBl:lITl~ ,., Il~ 'l'l:l.t:i O:Gil COUJlT OF Tf.lTZ.'.NI.A ORIGDTLU, JUIUSDICTION ClillffiUJ., SESSION CllSE MO. 6 OF 1987 . TIIJJ TIT:1FUJ3.LIC Chc.rr;os Mure.or o/so 196 of tho Ponq,l Codo Cn.p.16 J U D G M D N T I B.ll.U.il.TI 2 J. Tr_o n.cousce. .Junn. r.irussc.. stc.nds ol:r..rGQc. with tho offence of r..rurclo:r contrCl.'y to section 196 of the Pcre,l Coe.a. At·· 1::.o l)!'Olininr..ry l::.oc'..rinc, it wns C{?;I'Ood 1Jy both ria,rtics that 1..zizo. llc.ssc.n is c1.on.c. c,ncl thc..t she c'l..iccL o.. violent c!.cc.tb. by stnbbinco Tl::,.c post . nortcr.i oxo. □ inc.tion rcpo:d is o.lso 11ot in c'.isl'JUtO, so is tho oxtrc. juclicic.1 sto.toncnt of tho o..ccuso c:.. 1;1i112.lly it wa.s C,C-;i.,oocl tbc, t the ic.o:i:tifioe!.tion pcroc.o in this cnse wo.s concluctot. properly. Tho extrn. .juc'icir.l stctonont . docs not 0('..vrmco t.10 :p:;:-osooution cnse nn inch since it clonios on··'lho pa.rt of tho nccv.so("'.. ccinc to Mnnzoso c.nc:. stn.cbi?J6 tb.o ,cccc..socl. Th0 cvi('..onco for tl::.o l?l'osocution is th2.t :m .. sm-m .hbc1.;.llal:: PW1 wns . in his house c..sloep in 19840 l1t 0ro1.mc. 5c..n. ho hem,,,_ tho c.oo:,~ 1:>c.tl[,i.ng n.nd ho r..skoe. 1 1 'Is it you, Retort?" Thon 0<.,no tl:.o ro:ply 1 "Eo"• Soon cl'toi- tho.t FW1 hen.re'.. his ci_n.UQ.1tor ool1~1'1l.;, "Bc..bn. 3 MwizU' 1 Ho woko up; a.nl opened tho door which wc.,s fccil1(; his c1<.1.1.lf;htcr, tho d.ococ.scc1' s c'.oor. Ile i:hon sc.w t]:-_o intruc'..or a.ncl beam chc.sinc U.De The thief !'!..'\cl n 1:;c,.skct full of ~plothcs • Tho thief wo.s :;:-unninc; out cf tt.c h01.1So. In:front of PW'1 1roo nn cloctric lic;ht which m,,s ci vine licht to J.:is house. Tho thief' lookcc. c.t l?i-71 cs l'li1 shoutcc. 11 t:iof 11 1 anc.". tho thief throw tl:.o br,,skot full of clothes c.t PW1 • P:'11 hc.c. GOt vo:.,y 1102.J:' to tho thief wt.o. tbrow tt.o br.-,skct of clothes c..t - P1-T1 while fc.cinc; 1171 o Thon the tLiof turncci_ riGht 2.nc1. c'..isa.p:poc.rec.. .1.'.ftor fc.ilinc to o.pprohonc. tl:..e thief, :P-T 1 wont bo.ok to tis hou.so whore ho founcl hin CU'..U(,11tcr with sto..b wounds nnc. in c.. terrfblo conCj. tion. ..:-:.±'tor 2 weeks, PU1 wo,s cr.llocl to en ic.ontificc,tion ,:pa.rnd.o, o..nc. l:o wns c..hlo to ic1.ontify tl:.o a.ccusoa cs tl:.e :parson who DtU'c.croci bis dc.'U@.lt or• Ile ho,e. no hosi tc.. tion t-.,bout tl:.o

  • 24 - identity of the ourcoror bocc,usc ·ho hC'.cl seen hio clcc,rly ns ho chc,soc"'. hi □ r.•. ·, --:: \ · ·· ~ , t::- ~ .• . - :'. ... '. · on tho c1..."'..y in question. PW1 nlso scic. the,t his sic;ht -usocl to bo coocl enc th2,t it hc.d of rooont 'bcoooo poor• Tho witness hc.d to 50 to tho c'!.ock in orclor to be c"blo to soo cnci.. ic1.cntif;v tho nccusoc" .. in court, The otho:r wi tncss wr,,s t,fivG,?ml.'lc,wc Funcli, PW2, tho uifc of PH1 o Sbo clic1 not soc the thief hut sb.osnid thnt tho thief pnssocl nt tho beck of t:l:.o rouse whQj:.'O there wc,s en olcotrio licht. PlT2 confiJ:>::ioc'. thc,t she J;,..ncl en eye probleo just like her husbo..nc. cut tho..t this }.lI'obloo l::o..c. cooo c..ftcr their dl:,uc)J.tor 1 s coo.th. SLc nlso scic'. tho.t sl".o cnllocl out, "Is it you l1obort? 11 ..".u1c. tho reply she cot wv..s si.r:iply, 11 01:1 11 • Tho iclontif'icc,tion po.re.do 1'0gistor ( cEb.ibit ?2) co.els tL...,_t tho ui tnoss Ilnss:i.n Abc1..o.llcl1. idontifiocl tJ:i..o nccusod .. o..t tl:.c 1x'.ra.clo roc.c1..ily r,nc". witl:out lositc,tion, Tho accu.scd SC'.id in his defence tlmt Le c.,icl not know PW1 and tho,t ho only sc.:rr hin in court. Ilo was r.r;cotoc1. on 22/10/84 M he 1-ms Goinc to l.iu .. "'1.11Gc ICicoco ·to cot sugo..r. IIo wns info:rnoc., thc.t he m .. 1s beinc c.rrostoc. fo'l: a.rnoc1 ro1bcry. Four Police c.otoctivos a.rrostocl hin n.ncl took hio to Mnaononi Police Sto.tion. Ilo pc,rlicip.:.tod in en itontificc.tion pm-ndo. :FW1 ic'.entific<J h:L.--:1 bocl1..1.So ho wc,s very c."'.irty,. coninc fron tl:..c lock up rmc'I_ not 'be inc .:-,llowec.. to cha.nee l:..is clotl-:.cs. Ho hc.c. boon in the look Ul? for 8 d.fzys. Ile never sn,w PW1 before tl:o J?c.'U'(1do. Ile however donieci.. ever i3oinc to tho hone of PW1. :&-..sic.:-,lly, tho only ovicloncc to be relied. upon is thi:,t of iclcntificntion of tl:e c.ccusoa.. Both e,ssossors in this co.so o.clvisoc1 tlmt the c.ccusoc1 wa.s not Guilty. The first nsoosso1"', reo.c.inc; fron n pre]?t..roc'. text whicl:.. oust hcvo 1Jeen prcp;;,roci_ p;i:-ior to the sur.1::u.nc up to then, snicl tl:.:-.t he wo.s in c:.oubt beoc,1.1.Se tho ovici_enco of p;r1 wc.s not corroborltoci_. Tio wont on to ·,,· .. stn:t'o thnt wo c.lo not know wl:otl:o:;::- HT1 b.nc. cooc. eye si0-1t so tho.t ho ooulc. ic!Pntify the c.oC'l.tsoci_ in_ such n..."l cxci tine si tuntion bocc.uso ho, hinsolf hncl sr.id thc,t he l:..c..cl eye probloo. The seconc:1. e,sscssor opinoc:. tbc..t tho wi tnoss oust be influencecl by hntrocl enc~ thct his ovic.:.cl100 wc,s not true. I --vrill consider whether tl::.c only oviclonce c.vo,ilo.blo, tt:::..t is to scy, tho cv-i.c:.oncc of ictontificction of the cocusoc. by c, sinclo wi tncss ccm · f ouncl n conviction. 'J1he cc.so of Rcpullic v •. T.:i.nf;t. Kelole [i 971/ VlT 6, citcc:1.. by lccrnccl c'..cfonce counsol is ::colcrv2,nt here. It wc,s helcl in tha.t Cl',SC thnt: (i) whore evic.enco inplic0tinc tho o.ccusecl is bnsccl on idontifi0<.".t ion o.lono, such cvic.once oust be .:-,bsolutcly wr-.tcrtich:t to _justify conviction5 (ii) wl;lo:Lc identific~--.tion of the o.cous.ec. is no.de under unfcvourc,1)lo conditions sue!: o.s in poor licht, it is pruci_ent tii .. o.:t: there shoulc:. bo corroborctioni encl ( iii) Tho t:ri£'.l rr.eistro.tc uust wri..rn

  • 25 - hinsolf of tho t",cnc;o:i:' of oomrioti:nc tho nccusocl on tho ovidonco of n sinc;lo witness ·without corro1Jorc.tion. ],rtl:OJ.'lJOro tho oc,se of Wo.ziri Ar.-k'1ni V'. TI.o.m:1.'bli.~ lj9srjm 250 st..od1:3 cvon no:-i:-c lic;l:t on this issuo. It wa.s holcl in t!t on.so by tho Court of .t:i.pr)Cc..l tlmt ovieonco of visunl idontifioction is of tho woc.kcst kin.cl D..nd nest i.mrolinblo o.ncl thc,t no vourt should cot on oviclonoo of visuc.,l ic:.ontifio0-tion unless [',11 ]?OSsibHities of r.1istclcon identity nro olininc..te.c n.nc. the court is fully sr,tisfied tl:.r,t tl:o ovic"'..enco before it· is absolutely vmtortic;ht. Tho Court of .lppocl stntoc1 further that if tho judge np1Foc.cllos lis task of nnc,lysis nnc. CX<..':I.1in.,tio11 of tho ovidenoo end docs c cooc. job of' tlmt, encl ;:,oforo nccoptinc any oviclonco of idontifioation ho GOOS tr.:Xoucl-1. n process of eXlnini:nr; closely tho ciroun- sta.nccs in wl:ich tLc iclentifiodion of co.ch witncsH co.no to bo oc.d.o, tho c1.':'..ncors of convictinc on such ovic.oncc tiro c;ror.tly lcsscnoc. Thon tho. Cou.i.--t of !..pponl SU[;ccstccl how ·this to.sk coulc1. bo c.lone in tho f ollowinc mnncri "We wouJ.cl, for og::,nplc, CXl.)cotAo f'inc1 on :-i:-ocorc1. questions s.uol: cs tho followi11G posocl__ o.nci_ rosolvocl by him tho tine tl:c wi tncss bnc"'.. tho a,ocusoc1.. unc.or obso!'Vo.tion; tho c".istcnco c.t wl:..ioh l'.o obsoi"Vcc. hin; tho conci tions in w::.icL such o1.)sorvc.tion occu;rrcc:., for instnnoo wl:othor it wo..s c'.ny or nijb.t t;i.no, Whether ttoro wa.s ;-Jooc1 o:r- poor li[)1.tir1c o..t t'.O scone; c,ncl furtl:or whotl:o:.~ tho wi tnoss lmow or Jlc,cl soon tho c.ccuscc1. before or :r1ot .. ••.. 1U3.ci-o tho qun:.:,.ty of iclontificc.tion ovic:.onoo is rioor, for c:x,.,-,,r.r.i;>l() 1 whore it c:.o:pcnc.ec'. on o.. fleet inc clrmoo or on c lo.nc;or obsc:;.--vc,tion nn.c1.o in clifficul t oonc'.i tions si.1nh o.s o. visuc.l iclcntificc.tion in n, poorly licl:itoc;. s~ root, wo ere of tho cormclorcd view thn.t in such co.so 1 tho juccc woulc1 be :perfectly anti tlecl to n.cqui t. 11 I ho.vo tclron tho liberty to quote tho c,bovo jucl.enont i.n cxtcnso bcco.usc it provic1.os very clocx e,uic.olinos which I intent to uso in this co.so before no. Tho ovic1.cncc before uc is of n.n ic1.ontificc:b;i.on of tho a.ccuscc. c.t nicht in cloctric lic;l:t cnc. within a. vory short C .. istnncc. Tb.ore is no roe.son for not oocctJtinc; this ovidoncc which w2.s c;ivcn by the wi t11css. !for is there :-i:-ocson to tLink tl:.n t tho oyo sichi. of tho wi tnoss w0,s poor just boccusc a.t tho tine of e,'ivinc ovic.cnco :civc yea.rs le.tor, PW1 hnc:. poor sight. PW1 sc,ic:. tl:c.t :to Ln.c1 cooc1 oye sio,:t a.nc:. thn.t tl:c conc.i tion of his ayes r.c,c1 bocoDo bc.c". subsequent to tho c1oc/cL of his c1,.D,U[;J.:to1·. Thero is no ror,son to spoculc.,tc tl:,_,-,,t l:.is oyo sicht r.ru;:1t hnvc ..... been poo1~ c.11 c.lo!l[;. It is however true tl:.o..t PW1 srnr tho 1:rurc.oro:r of his c.nw:htcr iri a. floctinc nonont o..s tho r.rurc.01 ... or throw c:.01m tho bc,skct with tho

  • 26 - stolon cooc'.s c,t 1:in nftcr tm--ninc- townI'cls FW1 o TJ.10:-,:00 is nothinc; a.bn41'ml in v.. thief who is boinc chscc,_ to tt:o:n rounc'. to soo how close his pursu.OI' is or how ocny J_)Ursuorf3 there m-o. I thcroforo 1:olc1. tha.t the r.rure.orc:tt turnoc". rouncl c.s he throw tho stolon 1Jooty. 'Jllic above is tl:c ovic.onco in this cnso ::mcl it is cou:plecl with the ovie.oneo tlnt :PW1 iclontifioc'.. tho a.cousor. roc.clily .:mc7. without hesitation. PW1 wv,s c!.c,finito o,bout tho ic.ontificc-,tion when ho ccvc his oviclonco in CO'.U't• Tho oocusoc. so.icl in l:is c:lofonco thnt ho 1rr.s iclontifiod boonuao ho wns c.irty ns 1-o mcl boon in tho lock up for 8 c:nys am1.. wa.s not a.llowoc. to olmnco his clothes. But in tho proli!:ti.nccy honrinc it wn.s r-c;rooc1. thnt tl--.o iclontificc..tion l)<..'l.rndo ,ms conc'llctoc7. riror>crly. Tho nocusci'.. 02.nnot 1Jo hon.re,_ now to nlloco tl":.nt tl:o :pc.rnclo wn.s not conc'llctocl pro]?Orly • Tho ict.cntificC'.tion pc.rmlc vms concluctcc7. sooo two wooks after tho incic.ont. This iS by o.rry str.nc.Dzc'. not too lone 0, tir.10 to r.ci<:o a, wi tnoss f or 6 'Dt tl:o ic'..onti ty of tho rulpri t. Thero is of com.-so the fc.cto:r tl:.r,t J?W1 c!.id. not knou nor hc.c1. ho soon tho no01.tsocl bof ore the c'.ny of tl:c incic1.cnt o I nu mr-:-,ro of tho c..ofonco of tJ.:o nccusoc-: wluch is thnt of nn clil}io Thero is roo.lly not nu.ch of nn n.li'ti ns such boce;.uso o.11 thnt tho nccuscc: io snyinc,: is tl12.t ho we,s nm-rcho:i_,o no~ h scone. Tl'.orc wD,s o. c.ttonp1- to show thct his l'..libi wr•,s t:ruoo In J.i.11 Sc.loho .Mm,1.tu _ y., .'llopuohc {,98g/ ' Till 1 it wc,s hole. tlmt "tho unsworn o.nc1. untcstocl sto.tcnor..t. by tho firs-ti acousoc1. in his ci_ofoncc (ror.;o.:i-c'.inr; his nlibi); UllSUl?POrtot by e,ny other ovic"'..onco which in U.is cC'.so coulc, oo,sil;r l:nvo boon obtninoc. if th9 o.lib:f hnc7. o.;ny trace of trutb. 1 hos no be.sis o 11 I would nlso hole".. tb:.t tho o.cfcnco of nlibi of tho nccusocl clocs not rn.isc D-ny :rov..somblc cloubt r.101.">0 so bcc2.:uso csll tu0-t 1tich tho o,ccusoc"!. sc.ic wc.s tl:c,t ho wns not c,t tl:c conplc.inrurt 1 s house on th.::t nicht 0 In ot1or worc'..s, l:o is sinpl;y- clonyinc boinc invol vocl :fo tho oonnission of tho offence. Tio clocs not so.y tlmt it wn.s inpossiblo for hfu to hc.vo con:-:iittccl tl:.c,t offence boce,uso Lo wc,,s clsowhorc, which is whe,t tho clofoncc of e,libi ron,lly non.ns. Co11Biclorinc tho cl'..sc in its totnlity, o..ml :.2-vinc wn,1.--nocl nyso1f of tho c'.nnc.,"Or of rolyinc on visunl ovic1..onoo of n si:nc;lo wi tnoss o..t nic.;ht, I still ronC'.in sntisfiocl boyonc. nll roo,sorolJlo c:.ou1::t that PW1 is n witness of trutl: n.nc tl:c.t Lo coulc: not h[',VO nistckon tho ic'.onti ty of tho int:ruc1.or who visitcci !1in on 13/10/84 l:::ocrn.1Sc tho conc:.itions for pro:por ic1..ontif'icc.tion wore :present. 1..ftor a.11, tl:o c.ccusoci_ clocc not l:a.ve all tho..t no:rnc,l :foc..turos ns lo6.;;•noc7. c.cfoncc counsel woulc7. Jot us boliovo. Ilis foc.turos cl tl:.ouch not dn10rn2-l ore not So conr-1011 aft.er c.11.

( ,.

  • 27 - I nu ttoroforc sdisfto(l that tho n.ccuao,,_ wc,s sufi'ieiontly :i,a.orrtii",iod t'..S tho person who sto1:ibod tl.--.o cloconsoc1. to c1or!.tho Mo c.oubt o.ccusoc'. tad o.n intent to co.use Grievous boc"..ily hr:rw bon.rinc in nincl tho wocpon u.soclo Lco.rnoc1 c1.ofonco counsel subni ttoc1. tk,t tharo wc,s no wocpon broucht c..s evidence. But tho Dost no..i.----ton o::r.cnin..tion report in.respect of tho dococsod oouploc. with tho ovic.onoc of PW1 o,ml l?W2 olor..rly shows tlmt the a.ocoo.socl . a . . w.:,,s -stc'bbocl tuioo wit1t,sl object. Mo.lice c.foiothoucht ha.a therefore booh ostnblisb.cc.o .. I vn sc.tisfiocl tbnt tl:.o chm-co of otll'C:.or lms boon prowc. 1Joyonc nll ;rocsonriblo doubt. I tl:orofore fincl the o.ccusoc'. c;uil ty a.s cl:c.rcoc. anc. I convict hio ri..ccorcincly • . :..--/4..-: ___ .... "'-.;~~~- --:·· -·· . - . _,.- :----------- ....... :--·· ~ ·'' 'D!•U' TI "' .... , .. o ..U.,,U,.J...:. ... . JUIGE 7/8/1991 Dcliw:iZccl in 001,,rt in l.):L'csonce of cccusocl encl both counsels. c~~------ -~ • ..i.o Bl.:..TILrI JU:DGE 7/8/1991 os .1,I Mr·• Konon - !To record. Mitico.tion - Mt'o :Mkobn - Uil. !:.llocutus: My Lo1"d, the or.so is. o,cc.inst no. I oak fol" cwcc.l. S2NTDNCI!ls Accuaec.l ms boon comrictot:. of nurcloro Tb.ero is only -.)no sontonco for tl:i.o offence. of uurclcr. It is c.ccth 'by hcneill[;. I sentence. nccusod to suffer c.ci:-,th by b.c.ncil1Co .. · .... • ,,.,,.,>·;:.:·• ·-::,:X:~~ :: ______ ::.-:.-) Ricl'!.t of l..ssessm." ..... -·-······-·-~~ ..... lii Bf.tU .. TI -,, . JU:DGE 7/8/1991 CPDel OXj?lninc~. th<~nl<oil o.nc'. o- .... 1i.. :nt.Jl,'I.TI ··-·,\ JUICE 7/8/1991

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