Republic vs Anthon Stephen (Criminal Sessions Case No. 72 of 1985) [1988] TZHC 77 (19 August 1988)

PJ:J.TJ .. TI, J. IN TITE IJIGII COURT OF TlJ.l'ZlJU/. 1.!r DLR ES Silli.i'J-i OlUGDT1..I, JURISmC'11ION CRDIITNLL SESSIONS Cl..SE 110, 72 OF 1905 Republic VGrSUB iJTTTION STEPIIIW.'T JUDGMENT The e.cused l..nthony StGphon is clln.re;cd with the offence of r.ru.rdcr oon·i;rc;cy to section 196 9f t'.e Fencl Code, Ile b.c:i.s plee.ded not £,V.ilty to the ohn.rge. At the prGlir.li .. "1 honxing.,. tho o.oou.sGd ru:1ni. tted t:10 OOitte11ts of his extra-judioioJ. stc;tonGnt to the Justice of the Pea.co encl c,lso the oo:.ttents of the post norte1:i ezc.:i:i.nD.tion report Ihn rospeot of t!.1e deooc..sed 1:',,S · being oori•ect. The prosecution did not cc,ll r-IJY w:i. tnesses rtad i -t relied on the M.Ditted docuoents to ovo its case, Tho D.Ooused mcde a short ctefenoe on oath« I will now sat out t:.'.G sclient fGatures of the extra-juc1ioi;:,J. stc..toment. On 21st of October 1984 the MOU.sod wn.s a prisoner 111. tn.1ena prison. Ile went for his sha:r'e at the ki to]:el'l. There ho found the dooo&Sed vtho opo1ted the kitchen window and on ler.l:'l that it was the ocousod, ho insultod the accused md did not e-ive hio his s!:.l'.l:e• Tho accused left the lcitohen wind.ow. Le,ter on tho D.OOUsed lem-nt that it wr,,s not the tu:rn of the deceased to .-;ive food to follow prisoners 1mt tha.t it was tho tu..rn of ono Abn.si, also a prisoner. When the accused so.w .ll.bo.si, therefore, he told. hm his plight, ru1d lbasi told the c..ooused to oornG to t!!e kitchen window to est his shnres l.1.bo..si entered the ld.toh01t while tho o.ooused remained at the · 'Window of tho lei tchen outside• When Ab"-si oponod the ·window to givo food to t:.c.e o,ocuscd, the deCG8,Sed, who was also il1 the ki tohon, smr ilia was being given foocl c.nd he protesJcad to l.basi who wc.s c,"ivil~ the food to the nooused tho.t l.bnsi wc:-,s letting hirn down becruse he was n...Y..i.ne· the accused feel proud• The accused left with his foocl to Gc\t it. After or:.t:u1cr, the aoousod wont to see a friend. Ile pc,ssed neaJ: the ki tche;:111.., When the dece::,,sed so.w hio, he stted abusing hin r.gc'.in. Even when the c\COussd was po.ss:ing by tho lti. tohon after aeeing his frieitd, tho clocan.sc::;d n.'busocl hin c.ecin. The Mo·ascd oould not sta11.d the so :i.nsul ts 2ZJYDoref c.J1d he n.sked the deceed wha.t -wrone J.:-.e h=-.ci done to him. The decon.sod repl.ied thfdi ho would ensure that tho e..ccusod is r,,s thin as a er unless he ogi'ss>t! to ls concli tions. The r.ooused under.stoocl thc.".t the deceased wnnted hio to r:-rea to be sodooized by the docensed. The r.ocused told the (leoeo.sed that he could clo not!tlng to hio end left. But tho cleo.ec..sed replied thc..t unless he road to his d.oi:1onds he could be tmght o.. lesson. TJ. 1 o accused went to his cr,roup to rest, CJ.ld. while there a oolle--ue sent li:un to rret wn.tere Tho c.ooussd went for the wc,ter, IIo found the deceased sfan no.:-.x the we.tor plc.oe. The deoensed. ropec.tecl his thronts that who.tover the c.cousod. did, he would

• 2 1:r:.vo to [_,'Tee to the dee e c.,sGd' s clo;:i.Mcls; b oc mso no:d l,:ond8Y the deoeo..sed wau.ld bo in ch2..'.t'GO of GiVine out food to prtaoners• foul -'a!1e deoe 0 sed would ensure t.:.:d tho nccusod suffers than• When tho dcooc.sed uttered those tlJroc.,ts -tho nccuscd Wt:',S vary onr;ry, but booc.uso tho dooeased W'.'..S 1:.uce, -'u!1e r..cousod wns 2.fra.id to do anythil'le• Du·~ when he looked_ 2Xound, he srn·r a w1:1.ter pipa w'.'.1ich was hnlf loose ◄ Ile deoided to unfasten it oonr)lG-'ue]y so thd ct loo.st he could warn tho d.eoea.sed a little bit to stop his insults. Ifo socu:rod it 2nd with it ho hit the decec.sed on the !:.end. so that tho deoor>.sod would respect h::tn r-..s a nnn just like hii:1self' •. ::Jut ilt tho.t cssaul t he used excessive 1'oroa r>.nd. the decon.scd foll doim. Tho abovo is what the ao01..1sod sn.id in his oz-'lira. judioio.l sta-'uef:18ltt. Than there is the post morter.1 e.::~~ti.no.tion report. It shows two injuries on the head• The doctor clesoribcs then t>.S contused wounds, one nt tho pmotol. bone on the left md -'i;he othGr at the ocoipitc'..l bone. l'11e raport e;oos on to stD.te s "Intel'.'ltcl.ly tho skull corresponclinG to tho e.rcc.,s of WO'Ultcls crushed and tho bro.ill l2.0erded, pri:rta of brnin mc1.tter hr:.s boon diso!12.r50d from the skulltt. T:1a report aste,1Jlishes thn.t tho c-.cousad struck the dooer.:.sed twice usine the wa.t:r picpe. In his defence, the 2.0cused, rcpea.tod sane of wht is in his stteoant. IIe sn.id that he had never q_u..:.1.Tollod with tho clooee,sed apart from tho dfW in question and that he did not. f eC'J:' f'or his life .ion he q:ua:rrollod wi. th the d80Gl'..SOd. In his submission, Mr. Hc.,L.'"'..b, loc.rnod sto..te c..ttorney, so.id thnt the . cxtra.-judicioJ. StD..tenent os·kblishod r.1cJ.ice a.forethought and thc.,t tho:ra was no le3nl. provoct1tion in this oc,so. Miss Nhiguln, leaxned counsel for tb.a a.caused, suboittod ilt roply thc.,t the defenco of provoon.tion was c.,vciluble to tha a.ccuseci. After SUIJIJi.ng up to the P,ssossors, all tlJroe ::issessors found. 110 nioe c.forathought.. Tl..1e first n.ssessor op:i.11.od thc.,t the Accused did wh.:-.t ha did in orcler to defend hiosal:f' hecc.use off whc..t tl:.e deoea.sod wD..s tellinc h:to, o.s cleoec.sed hn.d sane authority in the p:"ison. Ea o'.l.so so.id tl.t<'-t the docusod wn.s c;rently provoked nnd clicl not know where ho struck. Ile f01md the n.ocuscd not Gt.tilty of nurder. The seooncl n.ssossor opined ·i;ho.t tho o.cct1sGct killecl tho c1.eoeD.sGcl bocm.se of the food. issue, f'Jld tho.t the o.cousGd nercly Wt' . .nted to teach the daceasod a lesson but thnt he diod in the process. The 1:-.st n.ssessor cl.so t'tl...,.ld the,t the o.ccusocl c1icl not intend to kill the deoeo.se(t. Ile noraly wa.ntod to tea.ch him r, lesson. The fncts in this oo.,se oloax]y show U'-)t the accused hit -'li110 deceased twice on tho head usinG c'. wo..ter pipe ond with (:,Tent force whioh oontused tho skull crusing the slrull to l)e crushod encl tho brain to bo lc.oer2.toa. Even 3/.o ♦

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• 3 so □ e pc:-,;ds of ·i:;he bro.in □ attor WM discho;rged fron tl::.o clrull in . the procoss• i-.s o.. 1·osul t of this tho clcccc.sod died.. s:i;1cre C3Jl he little doubt ['.bout t).10 in tontion of tho .:i.ccusoc1 . ., IIo oorta,j,nly intended to Of.'llse e,Ti.ovous bodily ho:rm to the decoc.soc1~ With a, respect to the nssossors, I run unable to n[,TGG wi i:h- whe,t they have ndvisod in thei:r opiitlons• h. person r.mst bo tnken to i11·bond the naturcl consoque1100s of his act,. In this C[.'..SG the a.oou.socl r.mst bo tc.ken to hc1ve :iJltenciocl to cause at tho vary C;TiOVous hro:n to the deccc'..sGd whon he stxu.ck hio with e,Ton.t force on the hand using c'.. w.::.ter pipe. It O.N:lnot be othondsG• lm intention to on.use grievous ho;rm is oalioe c..f'orethomht in: terms of sootio11 200 o:f tho Penru. Code• I will now GL."Llil1.o if thoro is OIJY defence for tho c..0tion of the accused• I will stnrt with ·bhe clef once contained in section lDA o:t the Penal Code nane]y self clo:tm10e • I clo not tl:.i11lc that such a clofonoe is mrr.ilable to tho acousod t tbis or.so boco.usc the clooec.sod was do:i.nc; notl"'lg to tho EI.Gousod• . Tho dooer..sod wns morezy tollill{;· ·tho accused .1.;11;::i.t ho would st bin to death unless ho consented ·bo bo sodonizod 1zy- hin. Sc:.:ction l8li. of the PorteJ. Code s.,rntess luli.(1) SulJjoct to the provisions of iil:is Codo every person hns the richt .._ ( a) to defend hinsol:f' or ru.-zy- other person c1c2.inst an unln.w:ful n.ot of assm.l t or· v.i.olonce to the boc'zy'J or (1)) (not rGlevant )., There wn.s no unlr-,rrl'ul act of 2.ssm.l t or v;i.olence to the body of the accusocl-, Thero were ocro words or insults. The only other· possible clofonoe to be consiclered here is that of provooation- Sootion 201 of the Pencl. Code sttess When n. persol1 who .unlnw.t'ully ld.lls nnothGJ:' uncler cirounsta.nces which but for the provisions of this sGotion would oonsti tut a . ,.. . ourclo:t'1 cloes .,che c10t which Cell.sos clec.th in the hent of po.asion cousocl by su.clclen provocr-;tio11.,. • • ........ u, 2.ncl bc,forc there is tioo for his p::-..ssion to cool, ho is cuilty of r:icnsloi.'.:;hter onlJ'"• The ter-i..1 "provoo2.tion 11 oonns and includes, e:roept 0..S hore:i.n-a.fter sto.toa., ony wronc:ful r.+. ::::r inc:''•1} of such ~ nc,ture as to bo likGly, when dono to ~ orcT.ina:cy person, or in the pro senoo of nn o:rdincll.'7 person to ['J.1othGJ:' pGrson who is under his i..'JDGcli<'..te oc:ro, or to whoo ho atcnc1.s in c. oonjUt..1nl, pa:rontal, filiel. or f'r0ta:imcJ. relation, or in tb.G rcl0tion of nn.ster o:r sGrvnnt, to clop:rivo hir.i of' tho power· oil ei'it-~~ o.nd to inc'llloo lti.r.i to oor.11:lit nn ?,si::au.1.t c.-f ~o kind which tho pGTso11. oh::.1:c;ed co.ooi ttod upon Jcho per son by when the act or insult is dono or offcrod 9 4/ ....

When ·such nn net or inmzl:Lia . .donu--or o.f:forccl 1Jy onG p€rson to rnothor, or in tho pI""rnc11.00 of other -bo a porson who is tmc"l.01 the innodic'..te oe of th,:,,t ot!::.oi- 1 or to whon the lc.ttcr s-'i;,:,_mls in n.riy such rol£'/cion c.s c.:f'oroso.icl, Jliho forner· is scl.d ·iio cive the latter provoo[l.tion for <'.ll 0.ss::.ul·b• ThG question which I rust put to r:zy-sclf ··is whether in t!:is en.so there "t-ms "a -wronaful not or· insult of such a 11.0-tu:re c;s to bo li!coly, whon dons to nn ordinD.ry porso11 1 to doprivo hin of the power of sol:f-oon·i;rol n.ncl to induce hio to cooni t n.n 0ss.:,ul t of' tho ld.ncl" w1:ich tl:e ocusod car.mi ttoa_. I answer this c:rv.ostio11 in tho ncG.:1.:tive. Not only umi.lc.l c'..i.1 ordinary n/Jll not _roaot tho wcy tho c.ccusocl dicl, but i.11 this en.so tho c.oouscc1 hinsclf was not so provoked 2,s to bo deprived of' bis j_JOwor of solf control.. Tl:e accused had encounterecl the cloceo..secl t!.:ree t:i..r:1cs 1Jcforc he ,tc(r hir.1 011 the fourtl: occasion. Tldoo the nccused dcoisecl to ler'...VC the, clooo,,o<::c1 DlonG, Then on the third occasion tho n.ccu.secl 1.1,sk0d the c10ccp .. sod whr .. t :1..a l'Gc.lly wanted. The deCGQ.Sec1. 1iold hin 11is cle □ n.nds of ei.:-doqy. Ilu.t thG C'.OC1.tsGcl brushed then awey and left. · Tl:011 on the four th occussion tho nccusccl 11, .. s .'.'.[;cin threatened by the deceased tJ.22,t unless J::o nc,Tcod to his c:.o::1:"1,11ds ho 1-101.u.cl st»t.O to dee.th becc.use tho fol101d.."'1G weelc the decoc.sGd woulcl be in o::.:,.rce of food distribu- tion. This is how tb.a nccusod rec.ctodJ. "Ku men011O heyo, kutok:"'llc'.. nr., ;-Jc.dc'.J'.''i:G c.J.:i.yo ncyo, unlJo lake nr.. unnne 11;:-, uretu., nilioe;-01x•, CJ".. ingn.wcjo nilikasirilt..".. SCJ.1'-.,_,. Silru.wiJ. n:, 12.. ku.:f ".ll,Yo, 1 r.kini nilipotupv. r.iho por.1beni nilion2.. kulil;.u.-rr-. nr.. boobn wbnlo lilif.m.guliwn lnlti.ni hC'..lila·r.i..shc. lotc hapo niliDI:Il.la, kuliDclizio. ili ancalru ni l.:im 1.a..u:ikvrnllt,""lla tu huyo rrL-u. ninpe O1zyo kicloL;o C'.-sizic1i la..u1i tukt'.na. Nt1ipo nilipolivunjc. bonbn. hilo nc. lo..u:1co11g-['.. nr.lo lcichw:mi ili r.'ll.i.hoshinu no. lrunionc, nw.rl. ni nwan.al.l.Oc lcr;rar,., yeye • ti T'.u.e clJove iG c. quotrvtion f'rom the oxtrr.-juclioio.l s-'i;0tenont of the c..ccusGda I h2.ve r-1:ro:xl.y Given r,, tr<'.nsl0tion of the_ r-.,oovc pa.ssncG when· I wn.s settmcr out- the so.lient f'en.turcs of tl10 G:;:;i;r::-.-juclioicl stateoent of the oocusea.. How, the 11bove oi tGd pv,ss°'6C clocs not in ·t1c lea.st suceast thc.t the aocu.sod noted in tho J::..eat of' passion cov.soc1 lJy sucldon provocation, But wh2.t he clid w0s C'.. cclculc.tee. not uo::·.nt to toe.ct t::o c.loconsocl a lesson. According to tho P<-',ssc.cc supr2. tho nocusecl wc:,s d'rdd of' the dooec.sod. IIG was cl.so ~ with hio nnd. he eot tJ.tls icleo. of unf2,sten:im.gc; the hnl.f fuod wn.tor pipe so t::...,t the;,r could 0s it wOJ:o O."'!.GllGO J.J.i.;--.isol:.f:' of tho wronas beine done to him by ·tha Mou.sea., nru::1oly tho insults met the tlri-e2.ts of dopri vat ion of' food:.. One ::-.,ssesso;r :i.n her views scicl ·tlrn.t t::o Mo1..i.soc1 wc:.n:f;od to ton.ch the decen..eed n. lossot 221d that he ldllecl him boo£'llso of t10 f'ood issue• I rospo-:- ctf'ully 2-.BTGO 1rl.-'li:1 this Viow 6 Jin.other ",sr-icesor scic."l. t:1r.t tho accused wD.ntod

• 5 to wc..rn the cleoeC'..sCd tJ.mt he s clso his equnl.& l1.Cc.il1 I :rospeotfully aeree with tlus re0so11il'15. The :rec,son:i.11{3' of tho two asossors clearly shows 0lemon-s of 1GVCl'l£'0 on ·bhe p2.l't of tho accusGc.1. 1c-:t::0X' thD.1.1 provo- cation. There is no doubt thr.d; tho cloccr.-.,scd wr.•.s a very 1) nan if he clic1 what he is cllegec1 by the n.ccusoc1.. ·!;o l:[1,ve <lone. J3ut, t!io f'act thB,t the decen.sod w2,s crv:i.l d.icl not anti tle the c.ccusod to punish him, or to tGach him G. lesson, [',S tho c..ccusGd put it. I er..1 of tho oonsidorod opinion thc,t the fncts GS sat out in tho e.:i.,--tr[',,judicia.l stc.tern.1t c1.o no ost~blish in cny wcy thr,t -'i;l:.o nocuscc1 WM nctuc.11.y provolcec1 cs to :)e doprivod of self control• No doubt he wns very annoyed r'.nd angry. :Out- lds Mgor dic1 not depriw hio of self oontrol booruse the ,r·;·~s which he did were oa.l.oulated to pum,sh::. the dGceMed. Th2..t is wl,y he fir st looked 1'.'.:L"Oi..U1c1 cl saw the hc..lf loose Piro ,whioh he then unt'l'..stened end usod it -to hit tho dec<:w,sed twice on the hec..d. i11 M [.1,ttonpt to ton.ch tho clecensocl n lssson to respoot the Mcusecl.. I respoot the views expressed by "'iih lai'i.V ;,wl two .r;entlooon assessors. But I nn1 unc.hle to 2-{;Toe w:i. th their ~') 1 1.olusions., Il'lc1.o-0d I pc..thi.ZG 1rl. th the ri.ccused in whr.t he did, r,.s the cssossors 1:..lso c1icl, i11 rzy opinion, but I c.:innot find cxcy- lescl provoc0tion here ostcJ)lished.. I Dm satisfied froD the evic1enoe 1)ef oro no th0·!; tho 0:1..,;rge of' I"JU.I"der has boen proved 1)eycnc1 ru:iy re:-..soncble c1ou1)t., I fincl acousoc1 [;'Uilty as chc:rged and I oouviot hin n.ccordil,ely * Prosecution: First offender Mi ticc:'cioni The Mcused h11s <'- bG.Cl ohost. IIo has pcrents. Allocutus: Sentence: I 0sk for leniency• I did not do this on pi.tL'lJOSG• I hnve 1)een in prison for ti. lone tine I o..sk for ;:,, short or sentence. The off enoo of f.lUl'clcr h0s go· only one so11ten.oe ru1.d that is cledh 1)y hn.nging• The r.ccusod hns been convicted of the off cnco of 1:iurc1.eJ:' oontro.ry to Sootion 196 of tho Penrw. Code• I sentenoo noousad to suffer der,th 1)y hD.t .. ;:f;:aa --JUDGE 19/8/19D8"1a 6/ ....

• 6 Richt of il.rpooJ. c:cplcined to ['.00US6Cl. Assossors thc.xikad o.nd, cli sohl3'ed. ,. .. -· •' - .·· ~ ) C-.~\ ___ - ---- 19/0/1900.