.jpg)
A Mombasa Magistrate Court has set the pre-trial date for the manslaughter case involving controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and 94 others for April 25, 2024.
On Monday, Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku denied bail to Mackenzie and co-accused, who are facing 238 counts of manslaughter.
The court cited the lack of a permanent place of residence for Mackenzie and his associates as a reason for denying bail.
Additionally, the seriousness of the charges against them was deemed to increase the risk of flight and there was also fear of witness interference, thus bail was withheld.
Ithuku directed the suspects to continue being held in custody until their case is heard and determined.
He also directed that Mackenzie and his co-accused be present throughout their trial.
Mackenzie, who was arrested on April 15 last year, has already spent a year in prison and police custody, whereas his associates have also spent more than 11 months in custody.
They are facing various charges of murder, terrorism, manslaughter and child cruelty in four courts at the coast region; Malindi, Mombasa, Shanzu and Tononoka, for the deaths of 429 people whose bodies were exhumed from Shakahola forest last year.
The victims were followers of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church and were allegedly forced to starve to death as the world was coming to an end.
In the manslaughter case, which is being held in Mombasa Magistrate Court, the prosecution had argued that the severity of the sentences facing Mackenzie, his wife Rhoda Mumbua and others would make them abscond hearings to escape potential penalty.
The prosecution further stated the 40 women and 55 men linked to 429 deaths in the Shakahola massacre are aware of the strength of the prosecution case against them and, hence would jump bail if released from custody.
The prosecution further argued that the suspects have immense control and influence over key witnesses including victims and children and their release would jeopardise prosecution.
The prosecution team submitted that Mackenzie’s character antecedent is against his release on bail having been convicted on his own in two criminal cases on July 23, 2017, and December 2023 respectively.
The accused were charged with 238 counts of manslaughter contrary to Section 202, as read with Section 205 of the penal code.
They allegedly, in pursuance of a suicide pact for the object of their deaths, and others not before the court, jointly killed 238 people.
They are alleged to have committed the offences on an unknown date between January 2021 and September 2023 in the Shakahola area in the Malindi subcounty within Kilifi County.
They had all pleaded not guilty to all counts of manslaughter.
BY THE STAR