Court reduces murderer’s sentence
Jun 18, 2007
A MAN serving a 10-year jail term for unintentionally hacking his son to death with a hoe, has been discharged after serving only five years.
By Hillary Nsambu
A MAN serving a 10-year jail term for unintentionally hacking his son to death with a hoe, has been discharged after serving only five years.
The Court of Appeal on Friday agreed with the defence lawyer, Mark Bwengye, that since John Martin Owori pleaded guilty to killing his son and was repentant, five years in jail were enough.
“Under the above circumstances, we consider a prison term of five years enough for him. He is entitled to immediate release unless he is lawfully held on other charges,†the panel of three justices headed by Justice Galdino Magellan Okello ruled.
The other members were Justices Alice Mpagi-Bahigeine and Stephen Kavuma.
However, the Principal State Attorney, Joan Magezi, had asked the court not to change the sentence but confirm it as the offence carries a life sentence, which the appellant was lucky to escape.
Magezi had also said the circumstances revealed that Owori was cruel and reckless and should be punished severely.
Owori, 58, from Tororo, was indicted for manslaughter by the High Court presided over by Justice Faith Mwondha on March 20, 2003. However, he appealed against the sentence arguing that it was harsh and excessive.
Court heard that on June 16, 2001, Owori and his son had a argument and Owori cut him on the head using a hoe.
A MAN serving a 10-year jail term for unintentionally hacking his son to death with a hoe, has been discharged after serving only five years.
The Court of Appeal on Friday agreed with the defence lawyer, Mark Bwengye, that since John Martin Owori pleaded guilty to killing his son and was repentant, five years in jail were enough.
“Under the above circumstances, we consider a prison term of five years enough for him. He is entitled to immediate release unless he is lawfully held on other charges,†the panel of three justices headed by Justice Galdino Magellan Okello ruled.
The other members were Justices Alice Mpagi-Bahigeine and Stephen Kavuma.
However, the Principal State Attorney, Joan Magezi, had asked the court not to change the sentence but confirm it as the offence carries a life sentence, which the appellant was lucky to escape.
Magezi had also said the circumstances revealed that Owori was cruel and reckless and should be punished severely.
Owori, 58, from Tororo, was indicted for manslaughter by the High Court presided over by Justice Faith Mwondha on March 20, 2003. However, he appealed against the sentence arguing that it was harsh and excessive.
Court heard that on June 16, 2001, Owori and his son had a argument and Owori cut him on the head using a hoe.