- The officer said he interviewed all the accused persons in the case and found that from their own statements, there was a possibility that they took part in the alleged poison.
- Most witnesses, including a pathologist who conducted a postmortem in South Africa, including Thuo's widow, have testified.
Image: FILE
A Nairobi court was Wednesday told how former Juja MP George Thuo was poisoned at Porkies bar in Thika nine years ago.
Chief inspector Maxwell Otieno, the lead investigator officer in the case, told Justice Roselyne Korir that they took bottles of tusker and the clothes which the deceased was wearing to the Government Chemistry where the result revealed that Thuo was poisoned.
He said the doctor who conducted a postmortem on Thuo informed him that he was poisoned and that he died due to excessive bleeding.
Otieno was testifying against the six accused persons who are a club owner Paul Boiyo alias Sheki, Thuo’s aide Christopher Andika alias Lumba, DJs Andrew Wainaina, Samuel Ngugi alias Visi, waitress Esther Mulinge and patron Ruth Irungu alias Atlanta.
The officer told the court he interviewed all the accused persons in the case and found that from their own statements, there was a possibility that they took part in the alleged poisoning.
He said Thuo was served with three bottles of beer at the bar according to their investigations.
"Your honour all accused persons were arrested and arraigned before court charged with the murder of the deceased after the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended their prosecution," Otieno said.
Most witnesses, including a pathologist who conducted a postmortem in South Africa and Thuo's widow, have testified.
During the last hearing, a witness produced a postmortem report in court to prove that Thuo was poisoned.
Andrew Gachii, a consultant pathologist and forensic specialist, told the court that Thuo died from haemorrhagic gastroenteritis caused by poisoning.
He said he participated in the joint postmortem on behalf of the family, alongside government pathologist Peter Ndegwa.
Led in his evidence in chief by senior state counsel Charles Okeyo, Gachii said he prepared his first separate report indicating that there was a possibility of poisoning.
He said he waited until he received another postmortem report from South Africa and concluded that Thuo was poisoned.
Another report by a toxicologist had said Thuo was poisoned while having a drink at a Thika night club.
The report was admitted as evidence. The defence had objected to its admissibility on grounds that it may be inconclusive, lacking credibility and may not “assist the court to arrive at any conclusion”.
The accused have since denied poisoning the former lawmaker at Porkies bar in Thika town on November 17, 2013.
(edited by Amol Awuor)