A man on Monday told the High Court in Nakuru that his son who is facing murder charges, is mentally ill and had once been admitted in a mental hospital.
Joseph Ndung'u, the father to the accused, in his testimony told the court that his son, Gaitho Ndung'u has been abusing drugs and had at one time been admitted in a mental health institution.
The son is accused of killing Samuel Karanja on December 23, 2014 at Mona area in Molo, Nakuru County.
Ndung'u told Justice Maureen Odero that on the material day, he heard the deceased and his son talking in the kitchen before he went to sleep. The following morning he woke up and found the deceased lifeless body under bed.
"I had a ceremony for another son who was being circumcised. After supper before I went to sleep, I heard my son Gaitho and the late Karanja talking in the kitchen. The following morning when I woke up I went to the kitchen and saw Karanja under the bed lying dead while my son was missing. I took action and reported the matter to the area chief," said Ndung'u.
In his cross examination, the defence lawyer asked the witness to present the documents from the mental hospital to prove that the accused has indeed been admitted in a mental hospital.
The court ordered that the documents be availed during the next hearing.
Earlier on, a doctor appeared to present an exhibit showing that the deceased was strangled to death.
The case will be heard on November 16.