Jail term for Kenyan man who raped 80-year-old woman reduced

The High Court has reduced to seven years a sentence slapped on a man who raped an 80-year-old woman.

Paul Mwangi Wanjira was to serve 17 years for the offence but the court, on appeal, slashed the number of years to seven, instead of five, which he was praying for.

Justice John Mativo said a report on the man showe he was a 'perennial problem' to his community. The judge added he had felt mercy, noting the number of years that Mwangi had been in prison had taught him a lesson. Mwangi, according to Mativo, appeared to have been tamed by jail life and was full of remorse.

"I note that the minimum sentence provided under the law is five years but can be enhanced to life imprisonment, where there are aggravating circumstances," said the judge.

He added: "I have carefully considered the peculiar facts of this case, the law and the purpose of sentencing as enumerated above and the social status of the appellant as at the time of sentencing as reported in the Community Service Officer's report, which at the time depicted the appellant as a person known to create disturbance to the community and family. And my own assessment after the appellant appeared before me (for he appeared to be subdued by prison life and remorseful) and taking all the foregoing into account, I take the view that the interests of justice will be met if I reduce the sentence from 17 years to seven."

Mwangi did not ask the court to set him free, he instead informed it he was willing to spend time in jail but the sentence be reduced.

The convict had been arraigned at Othaya Magistrate Court in 2012 and on September 9, 2013, he was was found guilty. He has already served three years of the sentence.