A middle-aged man has been convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison by a Chuka court.
Japheth Gitonga alias Mukima was found guilty of the capital offence after the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he caused the death of one Alex Mawira on May 16, 2017.
Delivering the ruling at the Chuka High Court today, Justice Robert Limo said that the court had considered all the parties in the case, and it had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused had committed the offense.
“The court today finds you guilty of murder for causing the death of Alex Mawira on 16 May 2017, which you committed at Kalewa market.
According to testimonies by the ten witnesses fronted by the prosecution, and according to your arguments, the court has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the offense as alleged,” read part of the judgment by Justice Limo.
The High Court Judge went ahead to pronounce the 30-year sentence and the convict was informed of his right of appeal within 14 days.
Gitonga was said to have stabbed Mawira with a knife on the left part of the lower abdomen after an argument ensued over the Sh30 betting stake that the deceased had loaned the accused.
Mawira met his death as he tried to seek his refund of Sh30 from Gitonga which the latter protested against. The request turned into a heated altercation culminating in Mawira being stabbed to death.
Elsewhere, Police in Bureti, Kericho county is holding a 26-year old man for allegedly killing his father over milk.
The incident happened on Saturday 5 when the suspect, Philemon Ng’etich, arrived home at midnight and quarreled with his father Samuel Rotich.
An eye witnessed said Rotich had accused his son of arriving home late and stealing milk stored in the family’s kitchen.
A brief altercation ensued from which the son picked a piece of wood and assaulted his father repeatedly on his head. Other family members responded late when Rotich was already injured severely.
Rotich was taken to AIC Mission Hospital Litein but died shortly after. The son is being held at Bureti Police Station awaiting to be charged.