Two suspects have been charged before the High Court in Eldoret with the murder of athlete Edward Kiplangat alias Benjamin.
David Ekhai Lokere alias Timo (25) and Peter Ushuru Khalumi (30) denied the murder charges when they appeared before Justice Anuro Wananda.
Justice Wananda directed that the matter be mentioned on February 15 and set the hearing for March 7 before Justice Reuben Nyakundi.
The Prosecution led by State counsel David Fedha opposed bail for the suspects arguing that they had past criminal records and had no fixed aboard hence they are a flight risk.
Lawyer George Sonkule acting for the suspects, however, applied to have the suspects released on bail arguing that they were ready to abide by any conditions set by the court.
Justice Wananda directed the Probation department to file a pre-bail report within 14 days to help in the determination of the bail application.
The duo is accused of murdering the athlete on December 31, 2023 at Kimumu in Eldoret.
Sunkuli claimed in court that during the arrest of the suspects, police officers stole a home theatre and Sh26,000 from the suspects.
Wananda, however, asked Sonkule to report the matter to police for investigations.
"If there will be no action that's when the court may intervene and order for action," he said.
Lead investigator DCI officer Inyasio Mwaniki, had three weeks ago told a lower court that the body of the deceased was found lying in a pool of blood with stab wounds.
He said the two were arrested on January 1, 2024 in Eldoret and Kitale and they are suspected to have murdered the athlete.
Police arrested the two as prime suspects linked to the murder of the athlete whose body was found in a car in the town on December 31, 2023.
A blood-stained knife suspected to have been used to stab the athlete was recovered from the suspects and would be used as evidence.
Police had also sought time to have the CCTV footage from the scene of crime analysed by the cyber crime unit.
Kiplagat was a long distance runner specialising in 3000m steeplechase.
He had been competing for Uganda where he holds the 3,000m steeplechase record.
The athlete had previously represented Uganda at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
The deceased had also competed in a series of competitions including the Shanghai Samsung Diamond League, Lausanne Athletissima in Switzerland, Paris Meeting Areva and Hengelo Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in the Netherlands.
He began by competing in the 10,000 metres, but on the advice of his coach, he dropped down to the 1500 and 5000m and later steeplechase.
