Man gets death sentence for robbery with violence

Evans Kipruto Talaam alias Japan hides his face as he leaves the court soon after being sentenced to death for robbery with violence. He was charged together with 16-year-old Rodgers Kiprop with robbing Mr Zachayo Cheruiyot on September 16, 2013 at Kabartonjo town in Baringo North Sub–County. PHOTO/CHEBOITE KIGEN

What you need to know:

  • Evans Kipruto Talaam alias Japan was charged jointly with 16 year old Rodgers Kiprop for robbing Mr Zachayo Cheruiyot on September 16, 2013
  • The accused armed with crude weapons including a knife, confronted the complainant and robbed him of a mobile phone, a spotlight and Sh510.
  • In his mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency saying that he had a young family to take care of back at home.
  • The magistrate also ordered that the minor suspect be put on three years’ probation so as to be monitored closely.

A 33 year old man has been sentence to death by a Kabarnet courts in Baringo County for robbery with violence Contrary to Section 296 (2) of the Penal Code.

Evans Kipruto Talaam alias Japan was charged before Kabarnet Senior Resident Magistrate Evanson Bett jointly with 16 year old Rodgers Kiprop for robbing Mr Zachayo Cheruiyot on September 16, 2013 at Kabartonjo town in Baringo North Sub–County.

On the material day, the court was told, the accused armed with crude weapons including a knife, confronted the complainant who was on his way home from the town around 8.30pm and robbed him of a mobile phone, a spotlight and Sh510 all amounting to Sh2,760.

They threatened to harm him if he raised alarm.

The complainant is said to have raised the alarm which attracted residents who rushed to the scene but the suspects managed to escape.

He had however positively identified his assailants and he reported the incident to the Administration Police officers at Kabartonjo Sub-County Headquarters who then arrested the suspects who had gone into hiding.

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The stolen items were produced in court as exhibit in the case which attracted hundreds of residents who thronged the court.

In his mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency saying that he had a young family to take care of back at home.

“I plead with the honourable court to forgive me as I don’t know what devil led me into this. I fear my children will suffer if I am jailed,” said Mr Talaam.

The magistrate however said that all the evidence presented in court had shown beyond any reasonable doubt that the suspect committed the offence.

“You deserve a stiffer punishment to serve as a warning to would be offenders and help curb rampant cases of armed robberies in this county,” said Mr Bett.

The magistrate also ordered that the minor suspect be put on three years’ probation so as to be monitored closely.

Cases of armed robberies and burglary in major towns in Baringo County are on the rise with more than 20 electronic shops having been broken into in the past one month alone.