37 bullets fired in Muchai killing, court told

From left: Suspects Simon Gichamba, Margaret Njeri, Jane Kamau, Stephen Lipapo, Mustafa Anyonyi, Raphael Gachii and Erick Isabwa in a Milimani court on February 21, 2017. They are accused of killing Kabete MP George Muchai. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Alex Mwandawiro, who examined the guns forwarded to him for verification, told the court that the firearms were used.

  • Mr Mwandawiro, who was led in his testimony by State Prosecutor Celestine Oluoch, told Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi that 17 bullets were fired from the G3 rifle, five from a Ceska pistol and 15 from another pistol.

Seven people accused of killing former Kabete MP George Muchai fired 17 bullets from a G3 rifle at him, his two bodyguards and a driver, a ballistic expert told a court on Tuesday.

Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Alex Mwandawiro, who had examined the guns forwarded to him for verification, told the court that the firearms were used.

Mr Mwandawiro, who was led in his testimony by State Prosecutor Celestine Oluoch, told Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi that 17 bullets were fired from the G3 rifle, five from a Ceska pistol and 15 from another pistol.

“From the examination you carried out, were the firearms in working condition,” Ms Oluoch asked the ballistic expert.

“Yes all the firearms were working perfectly well,” replied Mr Mwandawiro.

Cross-examined by defence lawyers, the expert said he could not tell from which suspect the firearms were recovered.

Mr Mwandawiro was giving evidence in a case in which Margaret Njeri Wachuiri, Raphael Kimani Gachii, alias Kim Butcher, Kimani Anyonyi, alias Musti, Stephen Asiliva Lipapo, alias Chokore, Erick Muyera Isabwa, alias Chairman, Jane Wanjiru Kamau, alias Shiro, and Simon Wambugu Gichamba have denied murdering the politician alongside his driver and two bodyguards on February 7, 2015 opposite Nyayo House in Nairobi.

“Can you tell who among these suspects did police recover these weapons from,” asked a defence lawyer.

“I do not know. I was presented with these weapons to carry out forensic examination to establish whether they were working and which one discharged which ammunition,” Mr Mwandawiro answered.

The suspects are also accused of carjacking and violently robbing two sisters on the same day. The court heard that moments before accosting Mr Muchai in the wee hours in the city centre, the suspects had violently robbed the two sisters.

The gunman reportedly struck at around 3am as the MP was being driven home from a family gathering at Galileo’s restaurant in Westlands, Nairobi.

Police reports stated that the gunman, with two accomplices from a getaway car, then stole Mr Muchai’s bodyguards’ pistols and a briefcase before speeding off. The getaway car had been stolen from the two women, who have since testified in the robbery case.