Suspect in Mpeketoni killings gives alibi in mass murder trial

MOMBASA: A suspect charged with the Mpeketoni killings was not at the scene of the crime on the night of the mass murders.

Samuel Mwangi, a tuk-tuk driver, told Justice Martin Muya that he saw Mahadi Swaleh Mahadi alias Jesus in Malindi on night of June 15, 2014, the same night he is accused of participating in the slaughter of 60 people in Mpeketoni, which is more than 200 kilometres away.

Mr Mahadi and Suleiman Salim Diana are charged with the mass murder of Mpeketoni residents. Mahadi has denied the charge and supplied evidence from Safaricom to show that on the night he is alleged to have slaughtered residents of Mpeketoni, his cellphone had been traced to Malindi.

Mr Mwangi, who was being led by Mahadi's lawyer Taib Ali Taib, claimed it was not possible for Mahadi to have been in Mpeketoni on the fateful day as Malindi is very far from Lamu.

Among witnesses the prosecution called to testify include a former Mungiki member Ali Mohamed, who had confessed to being a member of Al Shabaab. Mr Mohamed, who confessed to participating in the slaughter, was last year sentenced to hang.