Two deny murdering woman in Nyeri
A man in Nyeri County accused of murder received Sh5,000 down payment for the act, the High Court was told. FILE | PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- A mob beat up Mr Caeser Mwangi and Ms Cecilia Muthoni on suspicion of killing Ms Jennifer Wanjiku.
- Ms Wajiku was hacked to death using a panga.
- Mr Mwangi allegedly confessed the murder and down payment to his aunt.
A man accused of hacking a woman to death using a panga in Gathugu village, Mathira, was paid Sh5,000 by another woman to commit the murder, the High Court in Nyeri heard yesterday.
Justice Abigail Mshilla heard that Mr Caesar Mwangi had received a down payment of Sh5,000 from Ms Cecilia Gathoni to kill Ms Jennifer Wanjiku on July 18, 2013.
DENIED CHARGES
Mr Mwangi had been promised Sh15,000 for the murder job, former Konyu Chief John Maina said in his evidence on Monday.
Mr Mwangi and Ms Gathoni have denied the murder charge and have been in police remand at King’ong’o GK Prison.
The court further heard that the two were attacked by a mob that accused them of the murder.
Mr Maina said Mr Mwangi confessed the killing to his aunt, who name was given as Ms Wamuthanga.
“His aunt went to the scene where the suspect was been attacked by the public and asked to be allowed to speak with him. She was allowed and Mwangi said he had been paid by Gathoni,” said Mr Maina in court.
CONFESSION
The court heard that following the confession, Mr Mwangi was escorted to Ms Gathoni’s home by the villagers where they were beaten up before police arrived from Karatina town.
Area assistant chief Bernard Gichire told the court that police officers were forced to shoot in the air to rescue the suspects from the mob.
He said the residents hurled stones at police and the area District Criminal Investigations officer was injured on the head.
PANGA
In his evidence, Mr Gichire said Ms Wanjiku was killed on a narrow access road while on her way home at midday.
He said the panga was discovered a day later at the crime scene by residents.
However, the suspects, through lawyer Kimani Njuguna, questioned why the assistant chief recorded two statements with the police on one incident.
But Mr Gichire said one was on the first day of the incident and the second was for the discovery of the panga.
The prosecutor, identified as Ms Gicheha, asked the court to adjourn the case to November 28, when more witnesses are expected to give their evidence.
