Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal - 2010 June

5 judgments

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5 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
June 2010
Respondent granted leave to amend notice; appellant's murder appeal dismissed—provocation failed and death sentence upheld.
Civil procedure – amendment of respondent’s notice to affirm and vary – Order III r 13(1) – test for leave to amend: issues not on pleadings, absence of supporting evidence, or prejudice – pleadings and lower court findings relevant. Criminal law – murder – partial defence of provocation – sufficiency of evidence and jury direction; sentencing – discretion in imposing death and aggravating conduct warranting capital sentence.
30 June 2010
A bona fide purchaser who acquired registered land under court authorisation is protected from seizure absent evidence of dissipation.
Property law — Registered land — Proprietor's rights after court‑authorised sale — Protection under s.25 Registered Land Act; seizure and freezing orders — requirement of evidence of dissipation; ex parte applications — duty to disclose material facts; delay and prejudice to bona fide purchaser.
30 June 2010
Whether provocation or mitigation justified overturning the applicant's murder conviction or avoiding the death sentence.
Criminal law – Murder – Partial defence of provocation – Whether evidence supported provocation and adequacy of jury directions; Sentencing – Death penalty – Mandatory death sentences unconstitutional; sentencing discretion required but death appropriate where conduct is particularly aggravated.
30 June 2010
Appellant lacked locus standi and failed to prove Estate ownership; respondents in possession entitled to succeed on trespass counterclaim.
Property law – possession and trespass – determination of superior possession as basis for title dispute; Company/contract law – interpretation of purchaser in Asset Sale and Purchase Agreement ("Mulli Brothers" v. alleged subsidiary) and effect on locus standi; Evidence – weight of administrative determinations (District Commissioner) and absence of title deeds; Counterclaim – trespass and damages sustained by occupants.
23 June 2010
Application for stay of execution dismissed; recognition of a validly elected Leader would not render the appeal nugatory.
Civil procedure – Stay of execution pending appeal – Preliminary procedural objections – Clean hands doctrine – Whether appeal rendered nugatory by recognition of a validly elected Leader of the Opposition under Standing Order 3(3).
10 June 2010