Lawyer killed in trader’s home, guard tells court

A city lawyer was shot dead inside the compound of a businessman on whom he had gone to serve a court order, a watchman told the court on Wednesday.

Mr David Onyango told Mr Justice Luka Kimaru that lawyer Antony Ngunjiri was killed by Mr Joseph Muchiri’s labourers.

“ I heard Mr Joseph Macharia Muchiri order casual labourers repairing a road around his compound to carry lawyer Antony Nahashon Ngunjiri into his compound to teach him a lesson,” he told the court.

Mr Onyango said a group of workers who were working on a road outside Mr Muchiri’s compound beat Mr Ngunjiri with pieces of wood until he dropped his gun.

He added that the gun was picked up by Mr Muchiri who is charged alongside his brother David Muchiri and police officers Mohammed Madey and Abdi Elmoge with the lawyer’s murder on September 21, 2011, at Thome Estate Nairobi.

They have denied the charge.

The guard said Mr Ngunjiri cried loudly as he pleaded for mercy and appealed to court process server George Mogire not to leave him.

Mr Muchiri slapped Mr Mogire and took away the court papers, according to the witness.

“When things hotted up Mr Mogire took off and ran at break-neck speed leaving Mr Muchiri with his coat at the scene of attack,” the watchman said.

He stated that after Mr Ngunjiri was taken into the compound he continued to make a distress call in vain.

“I heard three gun shots and I did not hear him cry or call for help in Kiswahili or Kikuyu language,” Mr Onyango said.

He added that around 11pm police took away the lawyer’s body from Mr Muchiri’s compound.

The hearing continues on Thursday.