Students jailed for defiling, strangling minor

Two secondary school students, who defiled and killed an eight-year-old girl will spend the next 15 years in jail.

Nanyuki Resident Judge Mary Kasango when passing the sentence noted that the two were minors when they committed the offence and hence sent then to prison under the President’s pleasure.

“Though the accused were below 18 years when they committed the offence, their action has caused grief of unimaginable proportions to the family and hence deserves a stiff sentence.

MURDER

“This court hereby orders that they be held under the pleasure of His Excellency the President but should serve not less than 15 years,” ordered Justice Kasango in her judgment.

The two, James Mwangi Gatimu and Daniel Kaniaru Wangui , now aged 18 had been jointly charged with the murder of Keddy Muthoni on December 14, 2014 at Karoswa village in Lamuria Division, Laikipia county.

During the hearing, the court was told that on the material day, they defiled the girl in turns before strangling her.

Earlier, Muthoni had left church in the company of her mother Ms Mary Wangui but at one point, the girl decided to take a different path, challenging the mother on who would reach home faster.

PANGA

But when the mother reached home, her daughter had not arrived and she decided to go look for her.

On the way, she saw the two students chasing two girls with a panga. She moved towards them and saw the lifeless body of her daughter lying on a thicket.

The girl’s mouth had been stuffed with the hat she was wearing earlier and had a swollen neck.

It later emerged that the two girls were being chased away with a panga by the two students after they went to check when they heard noises in the bush.