Witness in teacher's murder case says he is a fraudster

Jane Muthoni cliff ombeta

Jane Muthoni, who was charged with the murder of her husband, Solomon Mwangi, chats with lawyer Cliff Ombeta on December 20, 2016. 

Photo credit: File | Eric Wainaina | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • During cross-examination on Tuesday, Mr Njuguna, who as giving evidence against Ms Muthoni and her co-accused Mr Isaac N’gan’ga alias Gikuyu, said he and one of the prosecution witnesses, who connected him with Ms Muthoni, used to swindle people through land deals.
  • Mr Njuguna, who serving his seven-year jail term in an undisclosed prison, admitted he and a lady identified as Damaris, used to defraud unsuspecting Kenyans by selling them nonexistent land.

oMr Joseph Njuguna alias Karis, the man who confessed participating in the murder of Kiru Boys Secondary School principal Mr Solomon Mwangi after being hired by the teacher’s wife Ms Jane Muthoni, has told a Kiambu court that he is a fraudster.

During cross-examination on Tuesday, Mr Njuguna, who was giving evidence against Ms Muthoni and her co-accused Mr Isaac N’gan’ga alias Gikuyu, said he and one of the prosecution witnesses, who connected him with Ms Muthoni, used to swindle people through fake land deals.

Mr Njuguna, who serving his seven-year jail term in an undisclosed prison, admitted he and a lady identified as Damaris, used to defraud unsuspecting Kenyans by 'selling' to them nonexistent land.

WELL-PAYING JOB

Ms Damaris, whom he said was well known to him, linked him with Mr Nelson Njiru who is still at large for a "well paying job". He told the court that he, Gikuyu and Ms Muthoni jointly crafted plans that later led to Mr Mwangi’s death.

Defence counsel Mr Francis Njanja had told the court that Ms Damaris, who is expected to give her evidence on Wednesday, is a known fraudster, claims which Mr Njuguna, 34, confirmed.

The witness told the court that before the incident, he used to do deals, which he described as “kuuza hewa”, (a phrase commonly to describe land fraud), with Ms Damaris.

Gikuyu, he said, was brought up in the same neighbourhood with Mr Njuguna in Gatundu.

BAKING BUSINESS

The convict, however dismissed a narrative by the defence counsels led by Mr Njanja that he and his accomplices were members of “a murder squad for hire”, and that they took part in Mr Mwangi’s murder.

Mr Njuguna told Kiambu High Court Judge Prof Joel Ngugi that he had never committed any murder before, saying that he took part in killing Mr Mwangi because of the money which they had been promised by the principal’s wife.

The court heard that both Mr Njuguna and Gikuyu, despite being promised Sh400, 000 for the job, only received Sh100, 000 which they shared equally.

The Sh100,000, he said, was given to them by Ms Muthoni during a meeting also attended by Mr Njiru and Gikuyu at Tree Shades Hotel in Kimbo, Ruiru.

Mr Njuguna said he was neither paid nor coerced to testify in the murder case. The defence counsels, while cross-examining Mr Njuguna, told the court that he had been paid by some teachers to testify against Ms Muthoni and Mr N’gan’ga.

On Monday, the court visited the scene in Karakuta, Juja, where Mr Mwangi's body was found

The hearing continues.