Magistrate in court over death of her man Robert Chesang'

What you need to know:

  • DCI detectives arrested Mr Mbithi after he surrendered to the police on Saturday morning, while Sgt Moru was arrested last week at his work place.
  • Mr Lawrence Lempesi, who is believed to have been the link between the wife to the deceased and the assailants, was arrested on Saturday and taken to Machakos.
  • Investigations showed that the car had visited the estate three times before the day of Mr Chesang’s murder.

A magistrate was on Monday arraigned at the Mavoko Law Courts over the murder of her husband, lawyer Robert Chesang', in Machakos two weeks ago.

Nyeri Senior Principal Magistrate Pauline Maisy Omungala was in the dock alongside three police officers and a driver.

The officers were Sergeant Richard Lorunyei Moru of Riruta Police Station, Mr Lawrence Lempesi, a retired senior police officer in Baragoi, Samburu, and Mr Peter Mbithi who is attached to the Mutuine post.

Also in court was Mr Geoffrey Angoria Moru, a driver.

The five, who appeared before Magistrate Elvis Micheka, were not required to take a plea as police requested for more time to wrap up their investigations into the case.

Their court allowed the officers to detain the suspects for nine more days at Athi River Police Station.

They are expected back in court on March 12.

SURRENDERED

Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives arrested Mr Mbithi after he surrendered on Saturday morning, while Sgt Moru was arrested last week at his workplace.

Mr Lawrence Lempesi, who is believed to have been the link between the magistrate and the assailants, was arrested on Saturday and taken to Machakos.

Nyeri Senior Principal Magistrate Pauline Maisy Omungala (left) and her co-accused in the dock at Mavoko Law Courts on March 4, 2019. PHOTO | CORRESPONDENT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

“Ms Pauline (Omungala Maisy) is the first suspect, she is a magistrate and wife to the deceased,” officers at the DCI told the Nation.

Sergeant Moru was arrested after it emerged that the car used to ferry the killers to Mr Chesang’s house at Moke Gardens Estate in Lukenya, Machakos County, belonged to him.

Mr Moru, 18, is said to have driven the car, a Mitsubishi with Registration Number KAJ 265F, on the day of the murder.

SHOT DEAD

Mr Chesang', 45, was shot dead in his house on February 17.

Police said two armed assailants went to the estate and while at the entrance to the gated community, they tied the estate watchman, before proceeding to the deceased’s house, Number 10057.

“One of them (assailants) knocked on the door, prompting the deceased to respond. He peeped through the window,” Mr Kinoti told the Nation.

“When the assassins saw him (Mr Chesang'), they opened fire through the window, and killed him instantly. They stole nothing from him,” Mr Kinoti added.   

Investigators recovered seven spent cartridges of 7.62mm special ammunition as the crime scene.

The lawyer’s body was found lying close to the window.

Post-mortem results showed Mr Chesang died of excessive bleeding.

CALL DATA

Detectives analysed the lawyer’s call data, CCTV footages from Moke Estate and those manned by the National Police Service Integrated Communication, Control and Command Centre IC3, in a bid to monitor the movement of the car prior and after the killing.

Investigations showed that the car had visited the estate three times before the day of Mr Chesang’s murder.

Although the motive of the murder has not been established, investigators are pursuing the possibility a domestic dispute or job related reasons. Mr Chesang’ is said to have had long standing differences with his wife.

Domestic violence cases had previously been reported at Machakos and Mavoko Law Courts.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has asked the police to expedite investigations.

“This incident reminds us of colleagues who have lost their lives at the hands of unknown assailants and are yet to get justice,” LSK President Allen Gichuhi said in a statement.