The Court of Appeal has overturned a 30-year murder sentence and ordered the immediate release of Norman Turyakira, a Rukungiri resident.

The court on Monday, September 4, 2023, presided over by Justices Muzamiru Mutangula Kibeedi, Christopher Gashirabake, and Eva Luswata set aside the sentence on grounds that evidence adduced by the prosecution was not enough to sustain the conviction.

We’ve learnt that Turyakira was tried and found guilty of murdering one Bosco Mujuni in 2012 and has served thirteen years in jail as he battled against his conviction.

Genesis:

In 2012, Turyakira was found guilty of murdering Bosco Mujuni who died in September 2010 in Rukungiri District.

Mujuni who was an employee in one of the bakeries in Rukungiri was allegedly found lying in a pool of blood while fighting for his life.

He didn’t utter any word according to the evidence in court. While he was being rushed to the hospital, Turyakira was arrested and taken to Rukungiri police station as a prime suspect.

Mujuni died twelve days after being treated at two different hospitals. The first Prosecution witness had told the court that he found Turyakira in a house that he shared with the deceased.

Turyakira reportedly remained quiet when asked about what could have happened to Mujuni. The witness said Turyakira was instead seen grinding his teeth as if in great anger.

Turyakira was eventually charged, tried, and convicted by High Court Judge Joseph Murangira and sentenced to thirty years in jail for murder.

Dissatisfied with the conviction and subsequent sentence, Turyakira in 2013 appealed.

He argued that the trial Judge erred in law and fact when he failed to adequately evaluate the evidence on record and thus convicted him on unsatisfactory circumstantial and hearsay evidence thus causing a miscarriage of justice.

He also added that the sentence handed to him was harsh and excessive since the trial Judge didn’t consider the time he had spent on remand while handing him a 30-year jail term.

The prosecution had asked the Court to dismiss the appeal saying that although there were inconsistencies and contradictions in their witnesses, they were minor, inconsequential, and had no bearing on the case.

In their ruling, the Court said that the behaviour of Turyakira after the said crime coupled with inconsistencies of the prosecution witnesses who said that the deceased while dying said he had been killed by him, didn’t show that he was a guilty man.

The judges observed that police arrested Turyakira from his house while he was sleeping at 3.00 a.m. and there was no way someone would remain in bed after killing a roommate.

“We therefore find that the evidence that was used by the trial Judge to convict the appellant was hearsay evidence that was uncorroborated. It should not have been admitted on the record or found sufficient to convict the appellant/Turyakira.”, said the Justices.

They added that the Prosecution also failed to bring an eye witness who would have also helped in the collaboration of evidence in the case.

“In conclusion, although we have discounted the contradictions as inconsequential, it is our decision that the prosecution case had serious doubts and we are under a duty to resolve those in favour of the appellant/Turyakira. We are in agreement with counsel for the appellant that the evidence that was relied on to convict the appellant was weak circumstantial and hearsay evidence. It was not strong enough to sustain a conviction”, said the Justices.

Norman Turyakira was not physically in court when the ruling was read. He followed the proceedings via Zoom.

The decision by the court ends a 10-year period of waiting by Turyakira who believes that he was wrongfully convicted.