Woman mentally fit to stand trial over murder of husband, doctor says

Dr Nisha Sapra (right) follows the proceedings in court. She is accused of killing her husband. PHOTO | RICHARD MUNGUTI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A medical doctor certified that a woman accused of killing her husband 13 years ago was of sound mind and fit to stand trial.

Dr Zaphania Kamau, who examined Dr Nisha Sapra in September 23, 2005, said she was of sound mind with no mental history.

POLICE

Dr Kamau, who has served the police department for more than 30 years, told a Nairobi court that Dr Sapra, a dentist, had no mental illness.

She was 43 at the time and is facing manslaughter charges.

“Dr Sapra was escorted into my office by the investigating officer who requested that I examine her mental status,” Dr Kamau said.

“She was mentally okay. I prepared this certificate certifying she was mentally fit to stand trial,” he told the court.

The doctor said blood samples from the accused, who has denied killing her husband, Yogesh Sapra Madan Mohan, in August 5 2005, had been taken elsewhere for examination.

STATE PROSECUTOR

Dr Kamau, who was led in his evidence in chief by State prosecutor Edwin Okello, presented in court the signed mental status certificate of the accused.

Besides Dr Kamau, a pathologist who performed the autopsy on the body of Mr Mohan testified in court.

Dr Jane Wasike said the deceased, who at the time of his death was operating several duty free shops at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, died as a result of multiple organ failure and blood infection.

He said the body had an abdominal wound.

“I examined the abdominal wound, it was measuring 7x8 centimetres,” Dr Wasike said.

CROSS-EXAMINATION

She said upon opening the body, she found there was a large amount of fluid in the lungs and pus in the liver.

She also noticed anomalies in the intestines.

Cross-examined by defence lawyer Kioko Kilukumi, Dr Wasike said the infection could be a result of other causes, not necessarily the abdominal wound.

Dr Sapra has denied the charge and is out on bond.

She had earlier been charged with murder and the offence reduced after she petitioned the high court.