A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to death by a Mombasa High Court for defiling and killing a five-year-old girl.
The accused, Mr John Mwanzo was facing charges of killing and defiling the girl on December 30, 2012 at his home in Kizingo, Mombasa County.
Judge Martin Muya found Mr Mwanzo guilty of the charges saying the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, and in his ruling sentenced the accused to death.
Judge Muya said the accused was convicted of murder which is punishable by death according to the law.
The Judge added that the prosecution evidence showed that the accused was guilty of the offence, as witnesses’ testimonies before the court placed the accused at the scene of the murder.
The court heard from the witnesses that the girl had mysteriously disappeared on the material date and after neighbours conducted a search, they found the accused in his house, carrying a bag which had the deceased’s blood soaked clothes.
The body of the girl was found in the accused’s house lying on a bed, and a DNA profile generated from the blood found on the girl marched that of the accused.
Mr Mwanzo pleaded with the court to grant him a non-custodial sentence saying he has four children who solely depend on him.
He also asked the court to consider the fact that he has been in remand since 2013 when the case started.
“The court has in mind that you defiled and killed a minor and you do not expect this court to have mercy on you. The court passes a death sentence on you according to the law,” said Muya.
The accused through his lawyer said he will appeal the ruling.