MENTION SET FOR MONDAY

Kimani murder hearing halted as accused contracts Covid

Second accused person says he was tested five times, all turned positive for virus

In Summary
  • Court grants request for adjournment
Police informer Peter Ngugi, Leonard Mwangi, Sylvia Wanjiku, Stephen Cheburet and Fredrick Leliman at the Milimani Law Court on Monday, October 8, 2016
Police informer Peter Ngugi, Leonard Mwangi, Sylvia Wanjiku, Stephen Cheburet and Fredrick Leliman at the Milimani Law Court on Monday, October 8, 2016
Image: FILE

 

The hearing of the Willie Kimani murder case was Monday adjourned after one of the accused persons tested positive for Covid-19.

AP Stephen Cheburet who is the second accused person in the case informed the court that he had tested positive for the disease.

 
 

The case was to be virtually heard with links from the Kamiti Maximum Prison. Cheburet said he was unwell.

All the other four accused persons were present in court except Cheburet who asked the court to adjourn the matter.

His lawyer Cliff Ombeta communicated with him via zoom and he told Justice Jessie Lessit he had been tested five times with all the tests turning positive for Covid-19.

Cheburet is awaiting another test on Thursday to ascertain whether he is still positive.

The accused asked the court to grant him two weeks to allow him time to get better so that he could attend court in person like his co-accused.

Lessit allowed the application for adjournment and set the matter for mention on Monday next week when the court will know the result of the Thursday Covid-19 test.

In the case, four Administration Police officers Fredrick Leliman, Sylvia Wanjiru, Leonard Mwangi and Cheburet were charged alongside police informer Peter Ngugi with the murder of Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and driver Joseph Muiruri.

 
 

The five are accused of killing the three victims and dumping their bodies at the Ol Donyo Sabuk River.

The three victims were allegedly abducted while leaving Mavoko Law Courts and detained at the AP camp.

The court heard that they were later taken to a field where they were each strangled to death.

The court has so far heard testimonies from 41 witnesses. Only two are remaining for the prosecution to close its case

Head of investigations in the murder case Nicholas ole Sena is expected to resume his testimony against the accused persons when the hearing continues.

 

 

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