The Court of Appeal in Tanzania has overturned the life imprisonment sentence of Baraka Makubi, a retail shop owner in Monduli District, after finding the rape trial flawed.

The appellate panel, consisting of justices Lugano Mwandambo, Abraham Mwampashi, and Lameck Mlacha, quashed the convictions from both the Monduli District Court and the High Court.

The original case involved allegations that Makubi raped a three-year-old girl, but the court highlighted contradictions in witness testimonies, procedural delays, and insufficient evidence.

Key concerns included the child's proximity to Makubi's shop, the father's presence during the alleged assault, and inconsistencies in medical evidence.The justices noted the absence of blood traces, the child's ability to walk home unaided, and the lack of credible testimony.The court emphasized that the lower courts failed to evaluate the evidence holistically, leading to the acquittal.Makubi was released from custody unless detained for other reasons.