Gasabo Primary Court pinned Jay Polly on the charges on Friday.
The local artiste was arrested on August 4 after battering his wife and removing her three teeth.
In the pre-trial, Jay Polly admitted the charges. He apologised and said he was drunk at the time he battered his wife
Around 11 am, the court judge started reading the verdict. The court room had 11 people, most of them were from local media.
The star’s wife Mbabazi Sharifa and their daughter appeared in the room but Jay Polly didn’t.
During the trial a fortnight ago, defendants asked for the release of Jay Polly, claiming that the man had reconciled with wife. The wife had already withdrawn her case.
Jay Polly had also asked for release, citing challenges his family is going through in his absence because he is the sole bread winner for the family. He said the wife does not have job yet their daughter needs to go to school next month.
The prosecution had sought a two-year jail for him and a fine of Rwf100,000. The prosecution cited medical test which showed the man’s beatings damaged the wife’s body at the rate between 20% and 30%.
The court rejected requests for release, basing on the fact that Jay Polly was drunk when he committed the crime. It also claimed the withdrawal by the wife does not call for immediate release because the crime isn’t against the wife only but the general public.
The court also rejected the prosecution’s points on the medical test, citing lack of sufficient proofs.
Considering all sides’ claims, the court ruled that Jay Polly was to receive one-year sentence but it was lowered because he admitted the charges from the beginning, showing remorse and the fact that it is his first time being charged in court.
The judge said Jay Polly receives a penalty of five months in jail as a warning and correction. He was cleared of the court’s fees because he was detained during the trial.
Defendants have 30 days to appeal the verdict but they have not said a thing about that.
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