where the Judge ordered a trial within a trial to determine whether or not the
extra-judicial statement was obtained voluntarily.
80. The Respondent State notes that on 21 June 2010, the trial court gave its
ruling guided by three principles, namely, the burden of proof in criminal
cases, the basis of admission of a confession and whether there is evidence
of torture. It notes that after careful consideration, the trial court overruled
the objection. It is also the Respondent State’s submission that the trial court
informed each party that they had the right to give evidence and call
witnesses. It also notes that the Court of Appeal, as an appellate court,
considered the extra-judicial statement and found that it was properly before
the court and that the Applicant did not disassociate himself from the
murder. It is, therefore, the Respondent State’s submission that the extrajudicial statements were properly admitted in court as exhibits and
considered by the trial court and the appellate court and that the Applicant
was convicted based on well-established principles of law and credible
evidence.
81. On the issue of criminal intent, the Respondent State further refers to page
18 of the trial proceedings record to the effect that the trial court considered
the unlawful act which was stealing, rather than killing. However, it also
submits that the trial court held that the accused had common intention to
steal but, in the course, committed the offence of murder.
82. On the issue of corroboration, the Respondent State also refers to the trial
court’s instructions to the assessors, at pages 7 and 8, where the judge
instructed the assessors to consider whether the confession was
corroborated, that a conviction of a person should not be based solely on a
confession of a co-accused, and that it must be supported by some other
independent evidence. The Respondent State further submits that the trial
court properly warned itself of the dangers of convicting on uncorroborated
evidence, and rightfully so. It refers to court’s statement according to which
it was convinced that there was evidence to corroborate the statement.
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