'Police killed 14-year-old Kwekwe Mwandaza in self defence'

MOMBASA: Police officers are justified to use their guns to kill in self defence or against an enemy wielding a weapon, the High Court was told yesterday.

Matuga DCIO Stephen Muli told the High Court in Mombasa yesterday during the trial of two police officers accused of killing a teenager, that Kinango, where the murder allegedly occurred in August 22, 2014, was notorious for armed attacks on police officers leading to loss of guns.

"In that area we have lost a lot of guns," said Mr Muli, who testified in the trial of former Kinango DCIO Veronical Gitahi and Constable Issa Mzee who are charged with the murder of 14-year-old Kwekwe Mwandaza.

Muli displayed a AK 47 rifle submitted as an exhibit with a mark he claimed was caused by Mwandaza's machete attack.

The defence has maintained that the defendants acted in self defence when they came under attack after they stormed a house in Kinango where Mwandaza was asleep.

Muli, however, said he was approached to write his statement on September 28, despite the incident having occurred more than a year ago.

While being cross-examined by defence lawyers Cliff Ombeta and Jared Magolo, Muli defended the late taking of the statement, saying he was not out to hide anything.

"When the officers approached me they I asked them why I was writing my statement on a Monday yet the hearing was scheduled for Tuesday... I went ahead and recorded my statement with them," said Muli.

Mr Magolo claimed there is a plot by the State to hide the truth.