UK court hands two Kenyans 14 years in jail for assault

Samuel Kibe (left) and Julius Mukenge. The two Kenyans have been jailed at a UK court. (Photos:Courtesy)

By Shamlal Puri

London, UK: Two Kenyans have been jailed for 14 years each after being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) in an unprovoked attack in Slough, Berkshire, 36km west of London.

Julius Mukenge, 26, of Church Street, Chalvey and Samuel Kibe, 25, of High Street, Slough, appeared at the Reading Crown Court in Reading, West Berkshire, on November 22 after the pair attacked two men as they ordered a kebab in a busy takeaway in the early hours of February 18, 2012.

The first victim was knocked to the floor where he was repeatedly kicked and punched while the second victim was punched to the floor.

Mukenge pleaded guilty to one count of GBH on October 7.

At a previous court hearing on October 18, he was acquitted of one count of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH).

Kibe pleaded guilty to one count of ABH on October 7 against a second victim.

On October 18, he was found guilty by a jury of one count of GBH.

Attacked

The court was told that at about 2.15am on February 18, last year, the victim, a 34-year-old man, was buying a kebab with a friend, also aged 34, when they were approached by Mukenge and Kibe and attacked.

The first victim was pushed to the floor where he was kicked and punched. The second victim was punched and fell to the floor.

Kibe and Mukenge fled from the scene before police arrived. However, the incident was witnessed by the public and captured on CCTV.

The two Kenyans later handed themselves in at a police station and were arrested.

The first victim suffered life-changing injuries and will require medical care for the rest of his life. He sustained fractures to his skull and jaw and was left in a coma.

Since the attack, he has been unable to walk unaided or perform basic tasks as a result of the head injury.

Punched and kicked

Ruth Bowskill, Temporary Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPC), said: “After enjoying a night out on Friday, February 17, 2012, the victim and his friend were in the High Street, Slough making their way home when they were attacked by Mukenge and Kibe.

Both victims were punched and kicked during the unprovoked attack. The first victim was ferociously attacked, knocked to the ground and beaten unconscious, the court heard

His facial bones were broken and he suffered a brain injury, which required a section of it to be removed.

He has been left unable to carry out basic everyday tasks and is expected to have significant ongoing disability, which will require long-term, around-the-clock nursing care and support.

Mukenge claimed that the victim was the aggressor and that he had punched him once in self-defence. He later pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Kibe also claimed he acted in self-defence, but the jury found him guilty of inflicting GBH with intent, after a two-week trial, despite his denials.

“It is clear both men acted jointly to attack the victim and that their intention was to cause him serious harm,” said Bowskill.

“We know that nothing can undo what happened to the victim, but we hope that today’s conviction brings him, his family and friends at least a small sense that justice has been done,” said Bowskill.