A student in Nyeri sentenced to death for stealing Sh520. [Photo/chronicle.co.zw]A Nyeri Court has sentenced a student to death after he was found guilty of robbery with violence.
He was charged with stealing Sh520.
Mr Gathogo Mwaniki, a student at Nyeri National Polytechnic was accused of stealing Sh520 and two mobile phones worth Sh17,000 from two pedestrians.
The prosecution told the court that the accused person committed the offence on January 10, 2016 at Nyeri town where he robbed Mr Moses Muriithi Kagau of Sh500 and a mobile phone valued at Sh9,000.
On the same date, the court heard that the accused person also robbed Mr Gitahi Kirugumi of Sh20 and a mobile phone worth Sh8,000.
The court heard that the accused person committed the offence together with others not before the court while armed with a knife.
The accused was found in possession of the stolen items at the time of his arrest by the police at Viceroy Bar near Majengo area.
Nyeri Senior Resident Magistrate Ruth Kefa in her ruling found the accused guilty saying the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Magistrate Kefa said the accused person who was accompanied by four other men was positively identified by the complainants who were on their way home at around 11pm before they were attacked.
The complainants told the court that they were able to see the accused person clearly because there was street lighting which enabled them to see the robbers.
The accused pleaded with the court for leniency saying he would like to continue with his studies but the magistrate dismissed.