Home » Justice for Murdered Businessman as Suspects Are Charged

Justice for Murdered Businessman as Suspects Are Charged

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Three men appeared before a Malindi court Thursday to answer a charge of murdering a local businessman, more than one year after the alleged homicide incident. 

Henry Wanje Karani, Nelson Wanje Mugaya and Amos Kiponda Charo however denied murdering Mohamed Nassir Juma on August 12, 2020. 

The incident allegedly took place in Kolonje village of Jilore location, Malindi Sub County. 

The Malindi Resident Judge, Mr. Justice Stephen Githinji, first read out the charge against Henry Wanje Karani, to which the accused person pleaded not guilty. 

Before the Judge could enter a plea of not guilty, the court clerk presented him with another file containing the charge against Mugaya and Charo. 

“You are charged that on the August 12, 2020 at Kolonje village of Jilore location, Malindi Sub County within Kilifi County, with another person not before course, you murdered Mohamed Nassir Juma,” Judge Githinji read out the charge in English. 

When the court clerk interpreted the charge in Kiswahili and asked them whether it was true or not, both the accused persons replied in unison, “It is not true!” 

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Joseph Kamau Mwangi, asked the court to grant the prosecution one week in which it intends to apply for the consolidation of the case files as the two cases were related, as well as file an affidavit to oppose bond. 

Mwangi also said the prosecution would use the period to complete the process of putting witnesses under state protection since they (witnesses) were in danger by virtue of being close associates of the accused persons. 

 Mr. Justice Githinji granted the ODPP’s prayers and set the mention of the case for October 28, 2021. The accused persons will meanwhile continue to be detained at the Malindi Police Station. 

Family and friends of the deceased persons were elated that justice was finally beckoning for their slain kin following the arraignment in court of the trio and wondered why it had taken more than 14 months to charge the suspects.