RULING OF THE COURT
In this appeal we are faced with the question of what the legal effect of a missing judgment of a 1st appellate court in a criminal trial is. In the instant case, neither the original handwritten nor the typed judgment dated 14th February, 2002 delivered by the High Court (Tuiyot and Juma, JJ.) is traceable.
The appellant herein was jointly charged with two others (both now-deceased) with one count of robbery with violence contrary to Section 296(2) of the Penal Code, Chapter 63 Laws of Kenya and one count of shop breaking and committing a felony contrary to Section 306(a) of the Penal Code in the Chief Magistrate's Court at Meru. The appellant pleaded not guilty to both counts. Thereafter, the trial proceeded in the subordinate court. Being convinced that the prosecution had proved its case against the appellant and his two co-accused, the trial court convicted the appellant and the co-accused of the offence of robbery with violence and acquitted all of the offence …