Five suspects in the murder of a Nakuru businessman in court. [Photo: Victor Wanaswa]
Five suspects in the murder of a Nakuru entrepreneur were Tuesday morning charged with murder before a Nakuru court.
James Muhonja, Alex Okwemba, Rahab Mukenye, Gladys Wambui, and Nicholous Mudegu appeared before High Court judge justice Roselyne Korir after a psychiatric report presented to the court established that they were fit to face trial.
The charge sheet by prosecution stated that on December 1, 2017 at Manyani estate in Nakuru town East jointly with others not before the court killed Julius Kimani Mathu – a businessman based in Nakuru town.
However, the five pleaded not guilty to the charges and through defense lawyers Wambeyi Makomere and Ochang Ajigo the five pleaded with the court to release them on a reasonable bond.
However the prosecution declined their plea citing them as a flight risk and urged the court to hold the suspects in custody while analyzing the evidence collected in recent weeks.
The prosecution requested for ample time to analyze the suspects` call data provided by the telecommunications company Safaricom and a comprehensive cybercrime report on the case.
The slain business man`s wife Gladys Wambui allegedly hired hit men for over Sh1 million as deposit on divergent days of last year to kill the business mogul. Among pieces of evidence to be analyzed and adduced before the court by detectives include mobile phone records, CCTV footage and verbal statements which the prosecution deems incriminating the suspects.
The entrepreneur is reported to have been kidnapped by unknown and armed people at Kiratina estate on his way home from work, killed hours later and his mutilated body found dumped in a thicket at Manyani area 15 kilometers away from his home.
The prosecution says that a police report availed so far indicate that all doors of Mathu’s vehicle were found open, the ignition key lodged in the lock of the driver’s door and the vehicle had loud music.