The suspect, Ivan Kamyuka with a prison warder after being released on bail during trial. FILE PHOTO
City socialite Ivan Kamyuka who was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for three years and eight months was yesterday released on bail.
Kamyuka was accused of killing John Ahimbisibwe, aka Jonnie, who was a Club Guvnor patron, in 2015.
Justice Wilson Kwesiga, who presided over a High Court session in Kampala in June last year, ruled that although the late [Ahimbisibwe] provoked the accused [Kamyuka] by assaulting his wife, he used excessive force to deter him.
While appealing for bail, Kamyuka through his lawyer, Mr Julius Galisonga, asked court to consider his client’s bail saying there is a possibility for him to complete his sentence before his appeal is heard yet there are high chances of success.
Ruling
“Your honour the applicant [Kamyuka] is a law abiding citizen who was on bail at the time of hearing of his case and he has never jumped bail. He also has substantial sureties who will ensure that he reports to court,” Mr Galisonga submitted.
In his ruling yesterday, Justice Cheborion Barishaki concurred with Kamyuka’s lawyer that the appeal raises very serious issues with high likelihood of success.
The judge also considered that the applicant has never jumped bail and has always attended court as per the court records.
Murdered. Johnie
The judge granted Kamyuka a cash bail of Shs10m and his three sureties a non-cash bond of Shs10m each. Kamyuka was also told to report to the court’s registrar on February 22 until further notice.
Ahimbisibwe was killed in the early morning hours of August 2, 2015, at Club Guvnor in Industrial Area, Kampala’s Central Division. The deceased had a confrontation with Kamyuka and suffered a cut in the neck inflicted by a sharp object. He later bled to death.
In his appeal Kamyuka accuses the trial judge Kwesiga of failing to consider and resolve contradictions in the prosecution evidence to the disadvantage of Kamyuka, hence reaching the wrong conclusion. He also accuses the judge of failing to evaluate and consider the video recordings evidence.
