Nyeri: Tension Outside Court as Man Accused of Killing Woman Is Freed over Lack of Evidence

 

Nyeri - There was tension at the Mukurwe Ini Law Courts as residents followed proceedings in a murder case. The court set Samuel Thuo free, casting doubt on the witness testimony used to arrest him. Photo: Citizen TV. Source: UGC The suspect, Samuel Thuo, was accused of decapitating Julia Muthoni in Mukurwe Ini in March before making away with her. Senior Resident Magistrate Damacline Bosibori ordered Thuo's release for lack of evidence to prefer murder charges against him. Bosibori further stated in her ruling that Thuo would have to agree on a date to meet the case's investigating officer every fortnight.  "The respondent is released from police custody unless otherwise lawfully held he is also directed to visit Mukurwe Ini DCI offices once every 14 days on a day they will agree with the investigating officer,” she ruled. Following an application by Thuo's lawyer, Mbau Gitahi, Bosibori ordered the police to provide the alleged killer with security until he was in his home county. "The said officers are directed to escort the respondent back to his county of origin to guarantee his security from the large mob is gathered within the court precincts," she added. Gitahi recognised the case was a matter that the public was very bitter about, and they were anxious to see the case concluded. Subscribe to watch new videos Why did the case collapse Muthoni's lawyer, Alexander Muchangi, explained that the suspect was freed after it emerged that the witness statement that led to the arrest of Thuo was questionable.  Muchangi stated that the witness was also facing murder charges at the Nanyuki Law Courts and had been sent to the doctors for mental examination. “The main witness who led the police to this particular suspect is facing other murder charges at Nanyuki law courts and has been sent for mental assessment which declared him not fit to take a plea, which takes this case a step back because his statement could not be relied upon,” said the victim’s lawyer Alexander Muchangi.    BY TUKO NEWS