The State was yesterday granted a final adjournment in the trial of seven local leaders charged in relation to the killings of 42 police officers at Suguta Valley in Baragoi.
Nakuru High Court Judge Janet Mulwa adjourned the two year-old case after the prosecution sought more time to file their submissions in court.
The hearing of the case failed to kick off for the fourth time prompting the defence lawyers to call for termination of the case, arguing that the accused were public servants and suffering since they were not earning their salaries which had been stopped.
Justice Mulwa, however, warned that she was granting the State the last adjournment noting the case was old and accused persons had endured travelling constraints from the hardship area of Bagagoi in Samburu.
Prosecution claimed they were yet to get directions from Director of Public Prosecutions’ Office (DPP) and were still waiting for advisory after two people were recently sentenced to death for similar charges by a Maralal court.
However, the defence team expressed anger and asked the court to terminate the cases, terming the delay ‘unreasonable’ and aimed at frustrating the accused.
Defence lawyers Robert Ndubi and Solomon Wamaayi said the delay amounted to ‘unjust suffering’ of the accused civil servants whose salaries had been withheld for two years.
The suspects, including a member of county assembly, four local chiefs and two elders, are facing charges of robbery with violence, specifically in relation to 12 of the officers killed and 501 heads of cattle that were stolen in Baragoi.
The officers were killed while on a livestock recovery mission at Lomirok village in Baragoi on the night of October 20, 2012.
The seven suspects, who are out on a Sh5 million bond, are MCA Lawrence Lorunyei, chiefs Christopher Lokerach, Enoi Lesike, Amojong Loturo and Jeremiah Ekurao, police reservist Loomira Looyen and ranger Ekai Loyee.
The case will be mentioned on December 10 for setting of a hearing date.