Lawyer Willy Kimani murder trial resumes

Suspects in the murder of lawyer Willy Kimani, his client and a taxi driver appear in court in Nairobi on July 13, 2017 for the hearing of the case. The case has on April 11, 2018 resumed after a long break. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Four AP and a police informer have denied murdering lawyer, his client and taxi driver.
  • Evidence presented in court shows that the three victims had fractured skulls and injuries on the chest, neck and face.

  • Mr Kimani was representing Mr Mwenda in a complaint he had made against Mr Leliman at IPOA.

The trial of five people implicated in the murder of human rights lawyer Willy Kimani, his client and taxi driver resumes Wednesday after a long break.

The trial is nearing conclusion with the prosecution having called more than 30 witnesses to support the case.

Four Administration Police officers, Fredrick Leliman, Mr Stephen Cheburet, Ms Sylvia Wanjiku and Mr Leonard Maina Mwangi, and a police informer Peter Ngugi, have denied murdering Mr Kimani, his client Mr Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver Mr Joseph Mururi.

The three were kidnapped after leaving the Mavoko Law Courts on June 23, 2016. They later disappeared only for their bodies to be retrieved one week later from the Athi River, near Donyo Sabuk police post.

PROSECUTION

Evidence presented in court shows that the three victims had fractured skulls and injuries on the chest, neck and face.

In addition, they had wounds on their hands.

The three are suspected to have been tortured to death and their bodies stashed in gunny bags and thrown into the river.

IPOA COMPLAINT

Mr Kimani, an advocate with International Justice Mission, was representing Mr Mwenda in a complaint he had made against Mr Leliman at the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA).

IPOA was investigating the incident where Mwenda claimed he was shot in the arm by Mr Leliman.

Mr Leliman is alleged to have accidently shot Mwenda but to cover up the incident, he brought fabricated charges against him.

Mwenda was then charged with three counts of possessing bhang, gambling and resisting arrest. He was also charged with traffic offences.