Watchman in court for suspected murder

By Willis Oketch and Eric Njuguna

A watchman accused of defiling and killing a four-year-old girl in Kizingo, Mombasa last week has been arraigned in court.

The suspect John Mwachele was charged with murder and defilement before Justice Martin Muya.

The suspect, who appeared in court with an untreated broken arm, did not plead to the charges because investigations are not complete.

He was detained at the Central?Police Station until January 9 when the case will be mentioned.

Justice Muya ordered the accused be taken to hospital for treatment for injuries inflicted on him by an angry mob that arrested him.

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His co-accused escaped when it is believed they were trying to get rid of the body, which?they had packed in a sack.

But Mwachele who spoke to The Standard at the police cell insisted his friend who had escaped was the one who defiled the child.

Broken arm

“I was not involved. It is my colleague who should be held responsible” said Mwachele as he nursed his right hand, which was hanging after having been slashed by a lynch mob.

State Counsel, Mr Lucas Tanui asked the court to give the police seven days to complete investigation into the incident.

And in a similar incident, a man was jailed for 25 years for defiling a Standard Four pupil in Ndhiwa District.

Daniel Orweny appeared before Principal Magistrate Bernard Omwansa for defiling the 12-year-old girl. The prosecutor, inspector Peter Omare informed the court the accused committed the offence at Ogwenyure Village, Central Kwabwai Location in Ndhiwa District on December 19 last year.

Omare told the court the accused met the minor on her way from the river and requested for a sexual favour, which the minor declined.

Orweny then reportedly forced the minor into an abandoned house and defiled her contrary Sexual Offences Act. He then ordered her not to reveal what had happened before releasing her to go home.

The girl was treated at Homa Bay District Hospital before the accused was apprehended.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence and asked the court to give him an opportunity to seek pardon from the minor.