A magistrate in Mombasa has ordered a man accused of killing his brother to conduct psychiatric tests before his trial begins.
Mombasa Chief Magistrate Patrick Otieno ordered police to transport the suspect to hospital to undertake the tests before the commencement of the case after his arrest on Thursday.
According to prosecution Maxwell Mwangulo picked a blunt object on the fateful day and hit his younger brother, Ramadham Janzo on the head before the deceased collapsed and died on the spot.
The incident happened after Mwangulo is said to have been angered by Janzo's decision to refuse to give him a cigarette he was smoking.
"Court will not commence the hearing of the case until the suspect undergoes mental medical tests," Magistrate Otieno said on Friday.
He said the hearing of the case will start as soon a medical report detailing the status of the suspect's capacity to stand trial is received by the court.
Police said Mwangulo is claimed to have threatened to hit his late brother several times, raising concern that he could be mentally ill.
The incident that happened in Kiembeni in Kisauni sub county is the latest of the cases of violence that are on the rise in Mombasa County.
In December last year, a similar incident happened in the area after two sisters clashed following a domestic brawl. One of them was badly hid on the head is still hospitalized.