Pine Car Bond murder: Ssebuwufu lawyers write to court for full judgment to enable them appeal
Lawyers representing businessman Muhammad Ssebuwufu and seven others have written to the High Court registrar demanding for the full judgement in the case in which their client was convicted and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment in the Pine Car bond murder case.
The High Court in Kampala on Monday afternoon sentenced Ssebuwufu, the proprietor of Pine Car Bond in Kampala to 40 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of torturing to death, businesswoman Betty Donah Katusabe for failure to clear an outstanding debt of nine million shillings.
Through his lawyers of Alaka and Co. Advocates and Ochieng Associated Advocates and Solicitors, Ssebuwufu has written to the High Court registrar demanding for a full judgment on which he will base to appeal against the conviction and subsequent sentence.
“We kindly seek your indulgence to avail us with certified copies of the judgement and proceedings in this matter so as to enable us formulate grounds of appeal for the appellants,” reads in part the letter to the court’s registrar filed by Evans Ochieng.
The lawyers say availing them with the full judgment will enable them file an appeal against it.
To appeal
Relatedly Ssebuwufu’s lawyers have notified the Court of Appeal of their intension to appeal against the sentence, conviction and orders of the High Court against their client.
“Take note that the appellants have been aggrieved and dissatisfied with the whole judgment, sentence and orders of Hon.Lady Justice Flavia Anglin Senoga delivered at the High Court of Uganda Criminal Division on the 24th day of June 2019 intends to appeal to the court of Appeal of Uganda against both the conviction, sentence and orders,” reads in part the notice of appeal.
The judge on Monday sentenced Godfrey Kayiza, Philip Mirambe, Paul Tasingika, Yoweri Kitayimba, Damaseni Ssentongo and Shaban Odutu to 40 years imprisonment for murder and 20 more years for aggravated robber and kidnap with intent to murder.
They were also ordered to compensate Katushabe’s family to a tune of shs100 million.
In her sentence, Justice Flavia Ssenoga said the manner in which the deceased was treated after the kidnap and torture leading to her death was despicable that warranted a heavy punishment to the culprits.
“The offence was not accidental but rather premeditated and each of the convicts played a role. The convicts had sufficient time since the abduction from her home in the morning to reflect on their actions but they didn’t find it in their hearts to repent and settle the matter amicably and in a civilized manner,”Ssenoga said.
According to the judge, evidence pinned the convicts on repeatedly torturing by assault Katushabe allover her body including the head, arms, stomach and back and this resulted into injuries that later led to her death.
“The abduction was as a result of fraud and death was not accidental but deliberately occasioned in furtherance of an unlawful purpose and as evidence indicated, each convict took part in the commission of the offences.”
According to the judge, the eight convicts ought to have observed humanity by not torturing their fellow human being.
“Humanity was created to carry forward an ever advancing civilization and to behave like the beasts of this earth like the convicts did cannot be accepted and condoned.”
She noted that the 40 year sentence was a warning to other members of the public that disputes cannot be solved violently by people taking the law into their hands but through use of lawful methods .
