Nyeri High Court on Monday directed for the second suspect in the murder of Joyce Syombua and her two children to undergo a mental assessment before taking the plea.
The suspect, Collins Pamba had been scheduled to undergo the mental assessment on Thursday last week at Nanyuki Referral Hospital.
The assessment, however, failed to take place as the psychiatrist refused to sign the medical report and insisted on talking to a relative of the suspect.
According to Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Peter Mailanyi, the delay acted to the advantage of the suspect.
“The doctor, Dr LN Gathuru, insisted on initially talking to a relative of the suspect before she could sign the report,” Mr Mailanyi stated.
The prosecution consequently requested the suspect to undergo the assessment before taking plea.
He will be arraigned in court on December 19.
The prime suspect in the murder case Major Peter Mugure had also been directed to undergo a mental assessment on Friday last week before taking plea.
Mugure will be held in police custody for 12 days as he undergoes a mental assessment at the Nyeri Referral Hospital.
The court further directed the two suspects to be separated and held in different police stations.
“It is because of intelligence that Mr Mugure is likely to interfere if they are put in the same cell. His (Mr. Pamba) security is at stake,” the prosecutor noted.