Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal - 2017 January

3 judgments

Court registries

  • Filters
  • Judges
  • Alphabet
Sort by:
3 judgments
Citation
Judgment date
January 2017
Delay, non‑prosecution and procedural defects justify refusal of stay and refusal to certify a defective constitutional referral.
Civil procedure – stay of execution – default judgment – laches and non‑prosecution; Criminal procedure – section 302A CPEC – applicability where accused not charged; Constitutional procedure – referral/certification under Rule 8 and Chief Justice’s role – originating motion required for non‑referral constitutional challenges; Court’s duty to assess substantiality before referral; Registry and drafting obligations.
24 January 2017
Expired statutory custody limits make detention unlawful; bail decisions must follow custody rules and Bail Guidelines.
Constitutional right to release – s.42(2)(e); Custody time limits – ss.161A–161J CPEC mandatory; No power to extend time after expiry except as statutorily provided; Bail incidental to release; Bail Guidelines Act – mandatory factors and information duty; Juvenile protections; Remittal for reconsideration.
11 January 2017
Failure to apply mandatory Bail Guidelines and exceeded custody time limits justified bail pending appeal.
Criminal procedure – bail – distinction between constitutional right to release (s.42(2)(e)) and statutory bail (s.118) – applicant must prove threshold facts; State bears evidential burden. Bail (Guidelines) Act and Guidelines mandatory – courts must consider all prescribed factors and may order production of missing information. Custody time limits (s.161A–161J) binding – detention beyond limits requires release. Bail pending appeal – application should accompany notice of appeal but Court may waive and hear it. Single member cannot determine substantive bail appeal; full court required
9 January 2017