Willie Kimani murder case adjourned after lawyer gets Covid-19
Bernice Mbugua @BerniceMuhindi
The trial of four Administration Police officers and an informer accused of murdering lawyer Willie Kimani and two others was yesterday adjourned after lawyer Cliff Ombeta went down with Covid-19.
Ombeta, who represents police officers Fredrick Leliman and Stephen Cheburet, sent another lawyer, James Muchere to inform the court that he was in isolation.
Lady Justice Jessie Lessit directed that proof which shows he has coronavirus to be brought to court today. Police officers Fredrick Leliman, Stephen Cheburet, Sylvia Wanjiku, Leonard Maina Mwangi and informer Peter Ngugi are charged with the gruesome murder in 2016. The case is expected to proceed today with lawyer Katwa Kigen who represents Sylvia Wanjiku cross-examining one of the witnesses in the case.
The five are accused of kidnapping lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and driver Joseph Muiruri after leaving Mavoko Law Courts on June 23, 2016.
Their bodies were later found in Oldonyo Sabuk river days after they were reported missing.
Last month, Head of Investigations Nicholas ole Sena told the court that the AP officers left in two different vehicles to dispose the bodies after the murder.
The court heard that Leliman was in constant communication with police informer Ngugi using an airtel number.
According to the officer, Willie Kimani, his client, a boda boda operator Josephat Mwendwa and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri were kidnapped at Transview, when they left Mavoko Law Courts.
The call data also showed that Ngugi and Leliman were together at Mastermind where the three deceased persons were killed.
Ole Sena told the court that he also retrieved four paper bags from a local supermarket. in the home of Mwangi, one of the accused person.
The paper bags were similar to the ones the three deceased persons were suffocated with.
Ole Sena also told the court that they also visited Leliman’s place and recovered 14 items in his house.
“We were taken there by the accused person to his home. I went with another officer Clement Mwangi,” he said.
The court heard they recovered his original handwritten statement dated April 13 2015 which was about the arrest of Josephat Mwendwa for a traffic offence.
They also recovered two copies of statements which were summons from the court in the Mavoko case dated 15th December 2015.
