Court Confirms 25-Year Sentence for Esther Ajupo in Boyfriend's Murder

The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction and 25-year jail term for Esther Ajupo, who was found guilty of murdering her boyfriend, Ian Masembe. A panel of three justices agreed that the circumstantial evidence presented was sufficient to prove her guilt.

The court affirmed the High Court’s 2020 decision, which found Ajupo responsible for stabbing Masembe multiple times at his home in Kampala. The justices noted that the facts presented were inconsistent with Ajupo’s innocence and could only be explained by her guilt.

Evidence presented at trial indicated that Ajupo was at Masembe’s home on the night of the killing. Neighbours later heard noises from the house and found Ajupo outside. Initially, she claimed Masembe had killed himself, but police discovered his body with numerous stab wounds.

Ajupo’s appeal argued that the conviction relied too heavily on circumstantial and hearsay evidence, pointing to a lack of DNA or fingerprint evidence. However, the Court of Appeal emphasized that circumstantial evidence holds the same legal weight as direct evidence and can lead to a conviction on its own.

The justices also highlighted Ajupo’s actions following the incident, finding it implausible that she would not have raised an alarm if Masembe had inflicted the wounds on himself. They rejected the argument that the absence of DNA evidence weakened the prosecution’s case, stating that other incriminating evidence was sufficient.

Furthermore, Ajupo challenged her sentence, arguing that the trial judge did not adequately consider her status as a first-time offender and a mother. The appellate court disagreed, finding that the judge had indeed considered all mitigating factors presented.

Consequently, the appeal was dismissed in its entirety, confirming both Ajupo’s conviction for murder and her 25-year sentence.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)