00081
74.
I
The Court also notes the fact that the items of clothing worn by the victim at the
time of the rape were not presented as evidence before the domestic judicial
authorities and the prosecuting authorities merely stated that their production was
deemed to be irrelevant.
75.
Furthermore, the Court notes that the absence of information in the record of
proceedings concerning the steps taken to obtain clarifications on whether the
victim's mother sells alcoholic beverages and, if so, determine the trading hours
of the business; and whether the Applicant was drinking in her presence on the
material day, as she claims, and up to what time; and cross-check this information
with the version given by the victim who claims that no adults were at home at
the time; the reasons as to why no blood was drawn from the Applicant for testing
to confirm whether or not the bodily fluids of the rapist found in the victim's private
parts or on her clothing matched the Applicant's DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
disclose patent anomalies in the domestic proceedings.
76. The Court is of the view that the medical
report should not be limited to only
confirming the occurrence of rape, but should also ascertain whether the offence
had been committed by the Applicant, since the victim was taken for medical
examination when she was still wearing the same clothes about one hour after
the offence was committed (between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.). ln the instant
case, there is no mention that the Respondent State has any technical constraints
in that respect, and as such due diligence would have required the DNA testing
to clear any doubt as to who committed the offence.
77. The Court recalls its position in the matter of Mohamed Abubakari v. tJnited
Republic of Tanzamal6, where it emphasised the need to obtain clarification on
issues or situations likely to impact the decision of the judges. In the instant case,
the Court's understanding is that even if it is accepted that, in offences of sexual
nature, the main testimony is given by the victim, as the Respondent State's
16
Moha med Abubakari v Tanzania Judgment, paras. 1 10 and 1 1 1 . See also Application No. 006/2015,
Judgme nt of 231312018, Nguza Viking (Babua Seya) and Johnson Nguza (Papi Kocha), paras. 105
107.
-
e- t