Fugitive hawker charged with murder of two businessmen
A hawker who has been on the run for the last four years has been charged with killing two businessmen during an armed robbery in Nairobi.
Mr Peter Kamau Mungai, 32, was arrested in Trans-Nzoia County by Directorate Criminal Investigations officers (DCI) then transferred to Nairobi where the alleged offence was committed in 2014.
When he appeared before principal magistrate at Milimani High Court Mr Peter Ooko, the accused denied the indictment filed against him by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He was allegedly armed with a pistol when he committed the offence.
State prosecutor, Ms Ann Kajuju Kirimi, told the court that on November 9, 2014 at Mwalim Mungai Farm within Ruai area in Embakasi sub-county Nairobi in the course of a violent robbery, Mr Mungai shot dead Amos Mutuma and Harrisson Muriithi.
Ms Kirimi further told the magistrate that the accused seriously also injured Nelson Kamaita Kipruto.
BAILABLE OFFENCE
Defence counsel Simon Mburu applied to have the accused admitted to bond saying, the offence which the accused allegedly committed is bailable.
“I urge this court to invoke Article 49 of the Constitution which requires every suspect to be admitted to bond then pronounce his freedom,” Mr Mburu pleaded.
He also said unless there are compelling reasons advanced by the state the suspect should not spend another day in cells.
Ms Kirimi did not oppose the defence’s bail request.
“This case will be consolidated with another which has been fixed for hearing on February14, 2018,” Ms Kirimi stated.
She asked the magistrate to take judicial notice that the offence in which the accused has been charged carries a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.
Mr Ooko allowed Mr Mburu’s bail application and released the accused on a Sh2million bond. Trial has been set for February 14, 2018.