Suspects deny killing daughter of Meru magistrate
Benson Kimathi Marangu right), the main suspect in the murder of nine-year-old Maribel Kapolon, consults his lawyer Elias Mutuma at the High Court in Chuka on November 2, 2018. On the left is the second accused, Francis Otudo. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU| NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Benson Kimathi Marangu and Francis Otudo were charged with the murder of Maribel Kapolon, who was nine years old.
The bail application will be heard on November 28 after a pre-bail report is prepared by a probation officer on the character of the accused.
Two suspects in the murder of a Meru magistrate's daughter have pleaded not guilty at the High Court in Chuka.
Mr Benson Kimathi Marangu and Mr Francis Otudo were charged with the murder of Maribel Kapolon, who was nine years old. She was the daughter of Githongo Senior Resident Magistrate Carol Kemei.
ACCOMPLICES
The court heard that Mr Marangu and Mr Otudo committed the crime with accomplices not in court.
They allegedly killed the girl between September 6 and September 16, 2018 at an unknown location.
Judge Robert Limo set the pre-trial mention date for December 17 after Mr Marangu's lawyer, Elias Mutuma, argued that the prosecution served them with large documents containing details they intend to use.
The bail application will be heard on November 28 after a pre-bail report is prepared by a probation officer on the character of the accused.
Mr Kimathi was a warden at Kangeta Prison.
DEFERRED PLEAS
The two suspects were first arraigned before Justice Alfred Mabeya but the case was transferred to Chuka as the Githongo court is under Meru High Court.
The suspects were to take plea on October 22 but did not because of a delay in transfer of the case file from Meru.
They also did not take plea on October 29 and November 2 after the court said the medical report was unclear and ordered its correction.
The girl was kidnapped on September 6 and her body found dumped in Gitoro Forest in Meru county 11 days later.
A post-mortem on Ms Kapolon’s body showed that her killers hit her on the head several times, inflicting serious injuries that resulted in her death.
