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| Aristocrat guilty of manslaughter | Aristocrat guilty of manslaughter |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A white Kenyan aristocrat has been cleared of murder but found guilty of the manslaughter of a black poacher on his family's estate in 2006. | A white Kenyan aristocrat has been cleared of murder but found guilty of the manslaughter of a black poacher on his family's estate in 2006. |
| A judge ruled Thomas Cholmondeley did not show "malice aforethought" in the shooting of Robert Njoya in May 2006. | A judge ruled Thomas Cholmondeley did not show "malice aforethought" in the shooting of Robert Njoya in May 2006. |
| The case, involving the descendant of one of Kenya's first British settlers, has attracted huge media attention. | The case, involving the descendant of one of Kenya's first British settlers, has attracted huge media attention. |
| In 2005 Cholmondeley admitted shooting a Maasai ranger, but the case was dropped owing to insufficient evidence. | In 2005 Cholmondeley admitted shooting a Maasai ranger, but the case was dropped owing to insufficient evidence. |
| That decision provoked outrage and mass protests among the Maasai community. | That decision provoked outrage and mass protests among the Maasai community. |
| 'Dumbstruck' | 'Dumbstruck' |
| The courtroom in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, was packed with lawyers, reporters, cameramen, and family and friends of Thomas Cholmondeley, the BBC's Adam Mynott in court said. | The courtroom in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, was packed with lawyers, reporters, cameramen, and family and friends of Thomas Cholmondeley, the BBC's Adam Mynott in court said. |
| THOMAS CHOLMONDELEY Educated at exclusive British school, EtonGreat-grandson of third Baron Delamere, one of Kenya's first white settlersIn line to become 6th Baron DelamereSole heir to family's massive Rift Valley estateDivorced father of two sons Profile of a Kenyan aristocrat class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/8039206.stm">Shock and relief in Nairobi court | |
| There were gasps of surprise as High Court Justice Muga Apondi gave his ruling after reading out a 320-page verdict on the case, although the defendant himself remained impassive. | There were gasps of surprise as High Court Justice Muga Apondi gave his ruling after reading out a 320-page verdict on the case, although the defendant himself remained impassive. |
| "I find as a fact that it was the accused who had shot the deceased resulting in his death," the judge said. | "I find as a fact that it was the accused who had shot the deceased resulting in his death," the judge said. |
| "In view of the above analysis I hereby find which I do, that the accused did not have any malice aforethought to kill the deceased." | "In view of the above analysis I hereby find which I do, that the accused did not have any malice aforethought to kill the deceased." |
| The Eton-educated 40-year-old, who has spent the last three years in jail, is due to be sentenced next week. He faces a maximum term of life imprisonment. | The Eton-educated 40-year-old, who has spent the last three years in jail, is due to be sentenced next week. He faces a maximum term of life imprisonment. |
| "I'm amazed - dumbstruck actually," said Cholmondeley's defence lawyer. "We will appeal. There is no doubt about that." | "I'm amazed - dumbstruck actually," said Cholmondeley's defence lawyer. "We will appeal. There is no doubt about that." |
| Surprise outcome | Surprise outcome |
| The incident took place in a remote corner of Cholmondeley's sprawling family farm in the Rift Valley region, acquired by his great-grandfather, the third Baron Delamere. | The incident took place in a remote corner of Cholmondeley's sprawling family farm in the Rift Valley region, acquired by his great-grandfather, the third Baron Delamere. |
| Cholmondeley told police at the time that Mr Njoya was with three companions and a pack of dogs, and he suspected them of hunting a gazelle. | Cholmondeley told police at the time that Mr Njoya was with three companions and a pack of dogs, and he suspected them of hunting a gazelle. |
| He said he had shot at the dogs, killing two of them. Mr Njoya was hit by a bullet and died on the way to hospital. | He said he had shot at the dogs, killing two of them. Mr Njoya was hit by a bullet and died on the way to hospital. |
| Cholmondeley's defence had argued that the fatal shot may have been fired from a weapon carried by his friend, but this was rejected as an "afterthought" by the judge. | Cholmondeley's defence had argued that the fatal shot may have been fired from a weapon carried by his friend, but this was rejected as an "afterthought" by the judge. |
| The judge's verdict is contrary to the non-binding not guilty verdict found by a panel of lay assessors - who do a similar job to juries in Kenya - in March. | The judge's verdict is contrary to the non-binding not guilty verdict found by a panel of lay assessors - who do a similar job to juries in Kenya - in March. |
| The outcome will surprise some who followed the case closely, our correspondent says. | The outcome will surprise some who followed the case closely, our correspondent says. |
| But it will please those Kenyans who believe Thomas Cholmondeley should have been prosecuted over the shooting of Maasai ranger Samson Ole Sisina in 2005. | But it will please those Kenyans who believe Thomas Cholmondeley should have been prosecuted over the shooting of Maasai ranger Samson Ole Sisina in 2005. |
| Cholmondeley, a divorced father of two, had admitted the earlier shooting, but said he acted in self-defence mistaking the warden for an armed robber. | Cholmondeley, a divorced father of two, had admitted the earlier shooting, but said he acted in self-defence mistaking the warden for an armed robber. |
| The latest trial has stirred up lingering animosity against some in the white farming community, who are accused of living on large areas of land, illegally grabbed early last century, our correspondent says. | The latest trial has stirred up lingering animosity against some in the white farming community, who are accused of living on large areas of land, illegally grabbed early last century, our correspondent says. |