In the District Court of Sumbawanga at Sumbawanga, the
Appellants were jointly charged with and convicted of two counts of the offence
of armed robbery c/s 287A of the Penal Code [Cap 16 R.E. 2002]. There was an
additional count in respect of the third Appellant of the offence of unlawful
possession of a firearm and rounds of ammunition c/s 4 (1) and (2) and 33 (1)
and (2) of the Arms and Ammunition Act, Cap. 223 of the Revised Edition, 2002
read together with section 11 of the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments)
Act, 2010. The first, second and third Appellants were sentenced to thirty
years in jail in respect of the first and second counts and fifteen years in
jail were meted out on the third Appellant, who was first accused at the trial,
in respect of the third count. Aggrieved, they proffered their respective
appeals to this court. The appeals were christened Criminal Appeal No. 64, 65
and 66 in respect of, respectively, the first, second and third Appellant.