By The Press Point
Former Likoni Officer Commanding Station(OCS) has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a middle-aged man in a case that has drawn sharp focus on police accountability.
Mombasa High Court found Yunus Athman guilty of killing 20-year-old Mbaraka Maitha Omar in 2018 at Mwenza Village in Likoni. The officer had gone to arrest the deceased for allegedly stealing some goats.
The prosecution, lined up more than 20 witnesses to prove the case against the former Chief Inspector.
The testimonies placed the suspect at the crime scene and downplayed claims that the deceased posed any threat at the material time.
The trial also exposed concerns over police conduct and alleged attempts to obscure the circumstances of the shooting, with multiple witnesses confirming that the deceased was unarmed and did not pose any danger.
The court heard that Athman fired several shots, killing the deceased on the spot despite not resisting the arrest.
In her ruling, Judge Wendy Kagendo Micheni said the court had considered mitigation, the pre-sentence report, and the victim impact statement before settling on a custodial term for the remainder of his natural life.
The court noted that as a police officer, the convict had a statutory duty to protect life but instead used unlawful force against a defenceless civilian.
The judge observed that abuse of state power strikes at the heart of justice and must attract a deterrent penalty.
The deceased’ family told the court they continued to suffer psychological trauma following the killing of their kin, describing the act as malicious and a betrayal of public trust.
The convict has 14 days to appeal against both the conviction and sentence.
