001359
of Article 14 of the lnternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which
deals with the said rights in a greater detail.11 The relevant excerpts of Article
'(...) ln the determination of any criminal charge against him, or of his
rights and obligations in a suit at law, everyone shall be entifled to a fair and
14 reads:
public hearing by a competent, independent and impartialtribunal established
by law. (...)".12 lt flows from a joint reading of the provisions of the two
instruments that an accused person has the right to a fair hearing.
79. The Court considers that, as it has consistently held, upholding the right to have
one's cause heard requires that, in criminal matters, conviction and sentencing
should be based on a case proven beyond reasonable doubt.13 The Court is of
the opinion that such a standard applies with greater relevance, generally
where a severe penalty is being imposed,la and particularly in instances
involving the death sentence as is the case in the present Application.
80.
The court further observes that, while it does not substitute national courts
when it comes to assessing the particularities of evidence used in domestic
proceedings, it retains the power to examine whether the manner in which such
evidence was considered
is
compatible with international human rights
norms.15 One critical concern in that respect is to ensure that the evaluation of
facts and evidence by domestic courts was not manifesfly arbitrary or did not
result in a miscarriage of justice to the detriment of the Applicant.16
11
see Armand Guehi v. Tanzania (Merits and Reparations), gg 73. see also witfred onyango Nganyi
and Others v. Tanzania (Merits), SS 33-36; and Application No. 01212015, Judgment of 22 March 2018
(Merits), Anudo Ochieng Anudo v. United Republic of Tanzania, gg 1OO and 106.
12 The
Respondent State became a party to the ICCpR on 11 Jut-1976.
13
Armand Guehi v. Tanzania (Merits and Reparations), SS 105-111. see also werema wangoko
Werema and Another v. Tanzania (Merits), 5S 59-64; and Mohamed Abubakari v. Tanzania (Me;its),
SS 174, 193 and 194.
la See Application No. 053/2016. Judgment of 28/03/2019 (Merits),
Oscar Josiah v. tJnited Republic of
Tanzania, $ 51. See also Application No. 032i201 5. Judgment of 2110312018 (Merits), Kijiji lsiaga v.
United Republic of Tanzania, gg 78 and 79.
15 See Mohamed Abubakari v. Tanzania (Merits),
$g 26 and 173. See also Kijiji tsiaga v.Tanzania
(Merits), $ 61; oscar Josiah v. Tanzania (Merits), gg s2-63; Armand Guehi v. Tanzaiia (Merits and
Reparations), SS 105-1 11; werema wangoko werema and Another v. Tanzania (Merits), SS 59-64.
16 see Mohamed Abubakari
v. Tanzania (Merits), SS 26 and 173; and Kennedy owino oiyachi ano
Another v. Tanzania (Merits), g 38.
23
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