Nine suspects in the murder of Kamaindi chief, Mr Japheth Mayau Mukengu will wait longer for the hearing of the case after a probono legal counsel representing one of the suspects withdrew citing a conflict of interest in the matter.
The nine suspects: Gerald Njeru, Julius Mburu, John Nthiga, Cecilia Gatura, Leah Muthoni, Julius Njeru, Jornard Njagi, Jediel Munyua and Tom Kinyua have been in remand since May 2019 after the court ruled that if released, they are likely to interfere with witnesses.
The court also noted that considering the magnitude of the matter, their lives could also be on danger if released on bond to the village.
The Chuka High Court was told on Wednesday that advocate, I C Mugo had withdrawn from representing, Mr Tom Kinyua arguing that the deceased chief was his client and that some of the witnesses lined up by the prosecution in the matter are also his close friends this not comfortable to go on with the case.
Chuka court Presiding Judge, Justice Lucy Gitari ruled that the case will be mentioned on October 19, 2020 when the court will informed whether the ninth suspect will have found another advocate.
Justice Gitari also set two consecutive days; January 20 and 21, 2021 for the hearing noting that the matter had taken long before the hearing starts.
The seven men and two women underwent mental assessment before taking plea on May 23, 2019.
They all declined killing the chief on April 30, 2019 by slashing him into pieces before setting the body on fire at his brother, Gikware Mukengu’s home within Kamaindi Location.
The heinous incident also led to the murder of Chuka OCS Joseph Kinyua as he was pursuing Mr David Ikaba, one of the chief’s murder suspects at Ugweri market in the neighbouring Embu County.
Mr Kinyua was hacked to death with an axe by Mr Ikaba and other unidentified people in the middle of the market.
Mr Ikaba was also shot dead.
The OCS’s case is still going on in Embu court.
