JOEL KIPKOECH LANGAT V. REPUBLIC

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

In an information dated 5^th day of June, 2008, the appellant, JOEL KIPKOECH LANGAT was arraigned in the High Court with the offence of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. The particulars were that:-

“On the 19^th day of April, 2008 at Cheramor in Kericho District of the Rift Valley Province, murdered William Kiprono Chepkwony.”

When the charge was read to him on 17^th June, 2008, he pleaded not guilty and the court (G.B.M. Kariuki, J) entered a plea of not guilty in the record and proceeded to fix the matter for hearing on 1^st and 2^nd October, 2008. On 30^th September, 2008, the matter came up for mention and the appellant’s advocate informed the court that the appellant intended to offer a plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter. The learned State Counsel sought a mention date to look into that offer. The matter was fixed for mention on 15^th October, 2008 for that purpose, but on that date the learned State Counsel again sough…