High Court of Tanzania

This is the second level in the Judiciary justice delivery hierarchy. It has both appellate and original powers on civil and criminal matters. It also hears appeals from the Courts of Resident Magistrate, the District Courts, and the District Land and Housing Tribunals in exercise of their original, appellate and/or revisional jurisdiction. The High Court is divided into Zones and specialized Divisions. 

Physical address
24 Kivukoni Road, P O Box: S.L.P. 9004
4 judgments

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4 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
October 1981
The accused's alibi was rejected, provocation not established; convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
Criminal law – Murder – Alibi – credibility of alibi evidence – Eyewitness identification – Medical evidence of lethal wounds – Provocation not established – Intention to cause grievous harm/death – Sentence: death by hanging.
21 October 1981
Provocation and fear of harm found, but excessive retaliation converted an otherwise provoked killing into manslaughter with a seven-year sentence.
Criminal law – Homicide – Self-defence and provocation – Excessive retaliation vitiates justification; reliance on extra-judicial statement and burden to disprove it; reduction of murder to manslaughter where provocation established but response disproportionate.
19 October 1981
A single fatal punch lacked proof of intent to kill; conviction reduced to manslaughter and ten-year sentence imposed.
Criminal law – Homicide: murder versus manslaughter – intention to kill or cause grievous harm required for murder; single fist blow causing fatal cervical injuries insufficient to prove intent – unlawful act manslaughter established. Defences of drunkenness and provocation rejected. Sentence: ten years' imprisonment with remand period as mitigation.
10 October 1981
Accused convicted of murder; intoxication and provocation defences rejected; sentenced to death despite being under 18 at time of offence.
Criminal law – murder – proof of intent to kill or cause grievous harm – use of lethal weapon to vulnerable part of body. Defences – intoxication and temporary insanity – when intoxication negates specific intent; factual lucidity defeats defence. Defences – provocation – requirement of grave and sudden provocation and no cooling‑off. Evidence – witness credibility and post‑mortem corroboration. Sentencing – capital punishment; age at offence noted but did not preclude death sentence under prevailing law.
5 October 1981