A boda boda rider who was brutally murdered alongside human rights lawyer Willie Kimani was twice threatened with death.
This was a few months before their bodies were retrieved from Ol Donyo Sabuk river, a witness told court on Monday.
Trial judge Jessie Lesiit heard that Josephat Mwenda had been told: "we will kill you and your body will never be traced".
This was if he continued to cooperate with officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The first threat, the court heard, was in December 2015 while the other was reported on March 30, 2016.
This was revealed by Vincent Kirui, a former investigator at IPOA who recorded a statement with Mwenda before the cold blood murders.
He said the first threat was issued when three officers from Mlolongo visited his home at night.
They were Fredrick Leliman - the key suspect in the murder case, Jane Ngige and former Mlolongo OCS - identified as Wambugu.
Kirui said Mwenda told him the three officers warned him against collaborating with the police oversight body.
Mwenda had lodged a complaint following an altercation with Leliman.
The second threat was issued three months before the rider's .
The three men are suspected to have been tortured to death following their kidnap after leaving the Mavoko law courts on June 23, 2016.
Leliman is facing charges alongside Stephen Chebulet, Sylvia Wanjiku and Leonard Maina and informer Peter Ngugi over the killings.
The witness said IPOA was investigating an incident where Mwenda claimed he was shot in the arm by Leliman.
Leliman accidentally shot Mwenda but to cover up the matter, they brought fabricated charges against him.
But before he was charged, the cops administered first aid on him and rushed him to nearby dispensary for further medication.
He was treated and referred to Machakos hospital but the officers took him to a private hospital where he was treated and discharged.
The officers did not let him go. Instead, they threw him in the cells and later charged him with three counts of possessing bhang, gambling and resisting arrest.
The witness said the police refused to issue him with a P3 form until IPOA intervened.
Mwenda was later re-arrested for the second time and additional traffic related charges were preferred against him.
During cross-examination by lawyer Cliff Ombeta, Kirui denied claims that Mwenda was armed with a knife.
Hearing continues.
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