The prosecution Friday requested a Kiambu Excessive Court docket for a continued detention of the 5 suspects in reference to the homicide of Daniel Muthiani Benard alias Sniper for an additional 14 days to permit the police to conclude their investigations.
The prosecution needs Kenneth Mutua Matiri, Fredrick Muruiki Kiugi, Frankline Kimathi, Timothy Kinoti and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai be detained as police proceed their investigation into the prison offence of homicide opposite to Part 203 as learn with Part 204 of the Penal Code following the brutal homicide Sniper, aged 33, on December 26, 2023.
The prosecution, via Evelyn Onunga, argued that releasing the suspects at this level would compromise the integrity of the continuing investigations and intrude with witnesses.
In her utility, she urged the court docket to stability the suitable to liberty of the suspects towards the curiosity of justice, peace, and safety within the circumstances of the case.
The suspects have been arrested in Meru city by detectives from the Murder Investigation Division on the Directorate of Felony Investigations on January 4, 2024 and booked at numerous police stations inside Nairobi and Kiambu.
The ruling shall be delivered on Monday, January 15, 2024.
The 5 are separate from one other three suspects who’re being detained over the homicide.
Kibera Senior Resident Justice of the Peace William Lopokoit Monday January 8 allowed the police to proceed holding three extra suspects related to the homicide for 21 days pending investigations.
The prosecution, led by Joseph Mburugu and assisted by Juddie Kitilit and Maureen Tanui satisfied the court docket that the three suspects might intrude with investigations and wanted to be in custody.
The court docket directed Boniface Githinji, Brian Mwenda, and Grace Kathambi be held at Gigiri police station or every other station pending investigation.
The matter shall be talked about on January 29, 2024.
Mwenda, is a bodaboda rider in Meru.
He was arrested on the outskirts of Gachanka village, Ntima East division in North Imenti.
Detectives from the DCI Headquarters Murder Division, led by Director Martin Nyuguto, raided the house of the rider within the probe earlier than strolling out with him.
They took greater than 4 hours on the suspect’s rented residence amassing forensic proof to assist in Sniper’s homicide probe.
The arrests got here only a day after police from DCI on Saturday January 6 stormed and pitched tent on the residence of governor Kawira Mwangaza in Milimani property, cordoning it off for the higher a part of the day.
They’re additionally reviewing CCTV footage on the residence and close to there.
Murder detectives declared the governor’s residence a criminal offense scene as preliminary investigations reveal the killing was deliberate and executed by her shut associates.
The detectives had earlier arrested 5 suspect amongst them Mwangaza’s brother and bodyguard Kenneth Murangiri Guantai, Director of Protocol in her authorities Kenneth Mutuma Matiri alias Kasigi, Fredrick Muriuki Kiugu, Frankline Kimathi and Timothy Kinoti.
Circumstantial proof has linked the governor’s workplace to the homicide.
However the officers say they’re but to know if she knew the incident was happening. She was not current then, the officers say.
A name information evaluation of the suspects additionally established a sample of communication earlier than the killing of the blogger.
The probe seeks to, amongst different issues, set up the mastermind of the plan to eradicate Sniper and the way the killers have been procured.
Beneath part 20 of the Penal Code, a principal offender consists of the one who dedicated the precise act, one who abets or aids or omits to do one thing for functions of aiding or abetting the fee of an offence.
Sniper disappeared on December 2, 2023 earlier than his physique was recovered dumped in a thicket on the banks of River Mutonga in Tharaka Nithi county on December 16.
The Chief Authorities pathologist Johansen Oduor who carried out the postmortem on December 22 stated the deceased was tortured earlier than being strangled.
He additionally had fractured ribs.
Snipper had, in his social media posts, recorded movies criticizing the governor and in accordance with the DCI, the suspects had informed him that the governor needed them to work collectively.
Within the utility the DCI stated one other suspect who can also be in custody named Vincent Murithi alias Supuu lured the deceased via a cellphone name that the county boss needed to fulfill him for truce earlier than he travels from his residence at Kabuitu in Igembe south.
Based on investigators, the deceased was lured by the 5 suspects via a cellphone name alleging that Governor Mwangaza needed to fulfill him.
She was nevertheless not within the workplace and reviews say she didn’t meet him.
E-mail your information TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com or WhatsApp +254707482874
