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Image: FILE
A suspect in the murder of Rwanda-based businessman George Mwangi has agreed to be a prosecution witness.
Suspect John Muikiriria Mwangi went missing the same day the deceased was murdered on October 10, 2022. He was later arrested, bringing the number of suspects to three.
Others are the businessman's widow and Kiambu politician Gladys Chania, who is the main suspect, and Morris Kamau Mbugua, a farmhand.
Muikiriria was arrested in Karinga location, Gatundu South, on November 10, 2022.
Investigating officer Peter Kamau closed a miscellaneous application which he had earlier been granted by the court to detain Muikiriria for seven days to complete investigations.
Kamau told the court that no charges will be preferred against the suspect since he will be a state witness in the murder case against Chania and Kamau.
He appeared before Kiambu resident magistrate Merissa Opondo.
Earlier, the court had been informed by the investigating officer that Muikiriria was the last person to be seen and spoken to by the deceased.
The officer said Muikiriria brought Kamau to replace him as a farmhand at the couple's home.
On November 2, 2022, Chania and Kamau were charged with murder at the Kiambu High Court before Justice Mary Kasango. They denied the charges.
The two will be back in court on November 29 for hearing of their bail application.
Forensic investigations concluded that Mwangi was murdered in his house before his body was dumped in Kieni forest, Gatundu North, Kiambu county.
Blood-stained metal rods, blood-soaked bedsheets, stained curtains and clothing were recovered from the house.
An autopsy conducted by chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor revealed that Mwangi was hit on the head and back several times with a blunt object.
The report also revealed that he struggled to defend himself from the killers as some of his fingers had fractures.
Mwangi was buried at his Mang’u home in Gatundu North on October 27.
Image: STANLEY NJENGA