Alexander Monson murder trial delayed for lack of statements

The case against three police officers and their retired colleague over the murder of British aristocrat Alexander Monson will begin on Tuesday.

It did not commence as expected on Monday as some of the accused's lawyers said they were yet to receive statements of the prosecution's witnesses.

Mr John Pamba, Mr Naftali Chege, Mr Ishmael Baraka Bulima and Mr Charles Wang’ombe Munyiri (Rtd) have denied murdering Mr Alexander, son of Lord Nicholas Monson.

They allegedly committed the crime in Diani, Kwale County, on May 19, 2012.

In court on Monday, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Alexander Muteti said, "I have four witnesses today and I am ready to proceed. However, some defence lawyers have not received witness statements."

REVIEW

When the case was mentioned in September 2018, the prosecution told the court that the DPP had been reviewing evidence with the aim of charging more suspects.

Prosecutor Jami Yamina said the DPP was at the time looking into the identities of other suspects.

“There is the possibility that [more] people will be charged with the same offence,” said Mr Yamina.

The case prosecution following the conclusion by an inquest, presided over by Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Odenyo, that the four were the prime suspects.

The team also said that the suspects included, but were not limited, to the four.

Mr Odenyo said the cause of the 28-year-old's death was neither natural nor the result of drug abuse.