I was threatened, witness tells judge

A witness in a murder trial against a man suspected to be behind a grenade attack at an entertainment spot in Mombasa said he feared for his life.

Mr Joseph Mwaura a driver, said he had feared appearing in court after he was called by a person on “a private number” who told him not to attend court or report to police. The caller claimed to know his family.

The witness told Mombasa High Court Judge Martin Muya that he had been called twice.

The accused, Mr Thabit Jamaldin Yahya, has denied murdering Ms Mary Cheptirim who was a security guard at Bella Vista Hotel on May 15, 2012.
Upon cross examination by the defence lawyer, Mr Chacha Mwita, the witness, who has been in police custody since Sunday, said he only told his family about the calls.

ANOTHER WITNESS

Principal prosecution counsel Jami Yamina told the court the State was having difficulties finding another witness, a bus conductor, Mr Hussein Hassan.

Earlier, Mr Mwaura said he was working as a driver for a bus company — Pegasas — that was plying the Mombasa-Nairobi route, and on May 15, 2012, he picked up passengers at Voi.

Upon arriving at River Road in Nairobi, police officers boarded the bus and asked passengers to take their luggage.

Mr Mwaura said there was some luggage in the vehicle that he was not aware of.

“Police took the items and we went to Central Police Station, where I recorded a statement,” said Mr Mwaura.

The witness identified the items in court, among them a magazine, bullets and clothes, as those that were found by police in the luggage.
The hearing resumes on March 13.