The five employees of St Augustine Preparatory School when they appeared before court on Thursday. [Photo/ the-star.co.ke]
Five staff members of St Augustine Preparatory School are set to face murder charges over the death of a nursery pupil.
The five, headmistress Serah Kessi, bursar Venant Mwasaru, driver Valdi Mbadi, mechanic Abednego Mwendwa and bus conductor Charo Kazungu appeared before Lady Justice Dorah Chepkwony on Thursday.The court heard that six-year-old Jeremy Masila was on July 21, 2017 in Majengo, Mombasa County, run over by the back wheels of the school bus after falling down through an opening on the floor of the bus.The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had recommended murder charges against the five accused persons.The accused through their lawyers, Francis Kadima and Gikandi Ngibuini, however objected the murder charges and requested the court to order an inquest to establish the nature of and circumstances leading to the child’s death.Justice Chepkwony dismissed an application by the accused to face traffic-related charges instead of murder charges saying the DPP is an independent office and does not receive directions on charges.Justice Chepkwony further issued an order for the accused to appear at the county commander's office every Monday and to undergo a psychiatric test to determine if they are fit to plead to murder charges.The judge ordered for the five accused persons to be released on a Sh1 million personal bond each.The case will be heard on August 21.