Naftali Kinuthia, the sole suspect in the gruesome killing of Moi University student Ivy Wangeci, was charged with murder. The 29-year-old suspect who is alleged to have murdered Ivy Wangeci on April 9, outside the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret Town pleaded not guilty in an Eldoret court on Tuesday.
He was allowed to take plea after the prosecution told the court that a mental assessment conducted on him had confirmed he was fit to stand trial.
10 witnesses have stepped forward to testify against Naftali Kinuthia who is the key suspect in the brutal murder of Ivy Wangeci.
The witnesses include bodaboda operators, Ivy Wangeci’s family members and her friends. Kinuthia’s lawyers pleaded with Justice Stephen Githinji to allow the suspect to be released on bail.
The prosecution led by Rosemary Karanja, however, successfully objected the bail application.
“We object the application to have the accused released on bail. The motor vehicle is part of the exhibit since it had crucial exhibits which were found in the vehicle which is currently at the Cyber Crime unit at the Eldoret East CID,” said Karanja.
Ivy’s murder case has attracted the attention of the whole country, with her former schoolmates appealing for justice to be served. “We will keep the authorities on toes to ensure justice is delivered in time,” Diana Nanjala, a student at the university’s school of medicine said.
The case will be mentioned on May 9, while the hearing will commence on June 10, 2019.