Man gets 10-years behind bars for killing expectant wife

A 32-year-old man who killed his expectant wife was on Monday sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Nicholas Muriuki from Kaare, Tharaka-Nithi County had disagreed with his wife over savings from a business they jointly operated.

The court heard that Muriuki hit his wife with a blunt object on March 15, this year after a fight.

The injured wife rushed for treatment at Magutuni Sub County hospital but as she returned home, she met her husband who attacked her, again.

The following day, the accused took the deceased to Chuka County Referral Hospital where she was admitted in critical condition and later succumbed to the injuries.

On Monday the accused admitted having fought his wife but denied killing her before Judge Alfred Mabeya.

“We only fought but I did not kill my pregnant wife,” said Muriuki.

The judge considered the circumstances that led to the death of the woman and the fact that the accused was remorseful of his deeds and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.

“The accused is remorseful, a first offender and a sole bread winner of three children. The court therefore jails him for 10 years,” ruled Judge Mabeya.

In the same court, Festus Muthomi, 38, from Kathagara village in Chuka/Igambangombe was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for manslaughter.

He was accused of killing his uncle David Mutegi on March 9, 2014.

The court heard that the deceased was trying to mediate a domestic dispute between the accused and his wife.

Muthomi who was armed with a knife then stabbed his uncle to death. He pleaded guilty to the crime and asked the court to forgive him.

In his judgment, judge Mabeya considered that the accused was remorseful and having been in remand for three years, sentenced him to seven years imprisonment.