CASE RP.0385 / 10 / HC / RWG
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THE RWAMAGANA HIGH COURT, HEARING PUBLICLY CRIMINAL CASES ON
APPEAL DECIDES ON CASE RP.0385 / 10 / HC / RWG ON 30/09/2011 AS FOLLOWS.
PARTIES
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR REPRESENTED BY MADAME BUNYOYE Grace
APPELLANT: BIZABARIMANA Emmanuel, son of Karerangabo Jean Baptiste and
Mukabiganda, born in 1988, in Jari, Nyarugenge, Kigali City, lives in Burera village,
Rugazi Cell, Katabagemu Sector, Nyagatare District, Eastern Province.
OFFENCE: Child defilement
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURE
1. The Prosecution has charged BIZABARIMANA Emmanuel in the Nyagatare High
Court of raping a child under the age of sixteen, alleging that on 25/04/2010 he raped a
fifteen-year-old girl named NTABANGANYIMANA Béatrice in a room at the child's
home, and he pleaded not guilty in Nyagatare High Court.
2. On 19/11/2010, the Nyagatare High Court convicted BIZABARIMANA Emmanuel of
sexually abusing a child under the age of eighteen and sentenced him to twenty years’
imprisonment and a fine of one hundred thousand Francs. Because BIZABARIMANA
Emmanuel was not happy with the decision, he appealed to the Rwamagana High Court,
saying that although he had previously pleaded not guilty, he appealed to the court to
plead guilty and apologize for the crime.
The issue to be considered in this case is whether BIZABARIMANA Emmanuel ‘s guilty
plea in appeal justifies a reduced sentence.
II. ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES ARISING IN THE CASE
• Whether BIZABARIMANA Emmanuel ‘s guilty plea in appeal justifies a reduced
sentence
3. BIZABARIMANA Emmanuel appeals stating that he wants to tell the court the truth,
plead guilty and apologize. He explains that on 25/04/2010, NTABANGANYIMANA
Béatrice met him in the house where he was sleeping because they were friends as
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