British terror suspect acquitted
What you need to know:
- The prosecution intends to appeal against the acquittal.
- “In the end, I agree that the accused may be a prime suspect in the crime that took place, but a conviction cannot be founded on mere suspicion however strong,” said Ms Ndung’u.
British terror suspect Jermaine Grant was Wednesday acquitted of nine charges he was facing.
Among them was lying before a registrar of births to obtain a Kenyan birth certificate.
Shanzu resident magistrate Anastacia Ndung’u said the prosecution did not provide enough evidence against the accused.
However, Mr Grant is still facing other terrorism-related charges before the same court where he has been accused alongside two Kenyans.
“In the end, I agree that the accused may be a prime suspect in the crime that took place, but a conviction cannot be founded on mere suspicion however strong,” said Ms Ndung’u.
Grant was charged with trying to obtain a Kenyan birth certificate between September 19, 2011 and September 26, 2011, at Voi by pretending he was Kenyan.
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He was going by the names of Grant alias Ali Mohammed Ibrahim, alias Peter Joseph alias Robert Mwakio Matata.
He was also charged with giving false information to Mr Tibran Tumbo, the assistant chief Muraru sub-location, Ms Esther Waiganjo, the district officer Tausa division and Mr Raphael Lemaletian, the Voi district commissioner.
The prosecution intends to appeal against the acquittal.
In the other case, Mr Grant and Ms Warda Breik are charged with having explosive materials which they intended to detonate in a public place.
During the hearing of the case, Scotland Yard Detective John Riley told the court that there was no DNA or fingerprints recovered from exhibits allegedly seized from a house where Mr Grant lived.
He said it might be as a result of how the exhibits were stored, handled and whether individuals who handled them wore gloves.
