A Kirinyaga man detained by police for killing his neighbour who allegedly stole avocados worth Sh100 from his farm will be charged with murder on Monday next week.
Haniel Maina Gachoki, 36, who was arrested early this month, will be charged for killing 52-year-old Evans Muchira Muthike.
Gachoki was arraigned on Friday morning before Kerugoya Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku. The court was informed that the charge sheet was ready.
Gachoki’s lawyer Danstan Omari told the court that his client was in court so that the miscellaneous file could be closed to enable him to take a plea before the high court.
The prosecution will present him before the high court on Monday to answer to the charge of murder.
A mental assessment has already been done, and he is fit to stand trial.
According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that on January 27, 2022, at Kiamutugu Village in Kirinyaga East Sub-County, Gachoki killed Evans Muthike.
According to police reports, someone used to steal avocados from Gachokis farm, and one day his wife saw the deceased on top of their avocado tree.
It is alleged that when Muthike (deceased) saw the wife, he jumped down from the tree and ran away.
Gachoki’s wife reported the incident to him, saying that it was one of their neighbours who had been stealing their avocados.
That’s when the suspect took matters into his own hands, and days later, when he bumped into the deceased, he brought him to his home and asked his wife to identify him.
Gachoki then beat up the deceased leaving him with serious injuries.
He then went to report to the police that he had beaten up Mithike.
Police apprehended him with a view of charging him with assault and causing grievous harm, but Mithike died three days later due to the injuries inflicted by Gachoki.
Police changed the offence to murder and presented him in court, where they sought his detention as they completed investigations.
The court allowed that he be detained for ten days to allow police to complete investigations.
The case will be mentioned on Monday next week.
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