Norman Turyakira, who has been serving a 30-year prison sentence for a murder conviction, is on the brink of regaining his freedom following a ruling by the Court of Appeal. Turyakira has spent thirteen years in prison while challenging his conviction.
His legal ordeal began in 2012 when he was found guilty of the murder of Bosco Mujuni, an employee at a bakery in Rukungiri. Mujuni was discovered severely injured and lying in a pool of blood. Despite receiving medical treatment, he tragically succumbed to his injuries twelve days later.
Turyakira was arrested as the prime suspect during Mujuni’s hospitalization.
At his trial, the prosecution’s case rested on circumstantial and hearsay evidence. Dissatisfied with his conviction and sentence, Turyakira launched an appeal in 2013, arguing that the trial judge had erred in evaluating the evidence and that the imposed sentence was unduly harsh.
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision, overturned Turyakira’s conviction. They cited insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution, coupled with inconsistencies in the witnesses’ testimony.
Notably, the judges highlighted Turyakira’s behaviour after the alleged crime and the absence of a direct eyewitness as factors supporting their decision.
“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 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.
