Kiambu farmer to hang for defiling and murdering daughter, 15

James Irungu is led to the cells after he was sentenced to death for killing his 15-year-old daughter [PHOTO: FIDELIS KABUNYI/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: A farmer who defiled then murdered his 15-year-old daughter six years ago has been sentenced to hang.

The two had been staying together after the girl's mother died a few years earlier. The deceased's two other siblings were living with their maternal grandmother.

A Kiambu Court heard that on the night of September 14, 2009 while at their home in Kamae village, James Irungu, 63, defiled then strangled Marion Waithera Irungu.

On the material day, Mr Irungu went to church in the morning accompanied by his daughter, then he attended to other matters before coming back home at 9pm.

Waithera was found murdered the following day.

SHATTERED DEFENCE

Iringu told the neighbours who had gathered at their home that his daughter had collapsed. He did not inform relatives about the death but reported the incident to the area chief, who in his evidence to the court said the accused looked suspicious at the time.

"The accused neither informed his neighbours about his daughter's illness nor her sudden demise. It is natural that when one is bereaved, you inform at least a relative. In this case, the accused ignored and or failed to do so," The prosecution had told the court.

The state called a total of seven witnesses, including the doctor who performed an autopsy and gave a report to the effect that the girl died by strangulation, with the possibility of defilement.

Justice Nicholas Ombija in his judgement said the defence was shattered after two neighbours who had seen the child alive during the day gave contradictory evidence.

"The accused's statement puts the burden on his shoulders as he was incapable of explaining as to who killed the deceased. The prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and I sentence the accused to suffer death in the manner prescribed under the law," Justice Ombija said.

His lawyer asked for leniency, saying Irungu had already spent six years in custody. He has 15 days to appeal the sentence.