Probe team collects crucial evidence in lawyer’s murder

A team investigating the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani and two others visited the killing scene and collected what they termed as crucial evidence.

Among the samples they collected were soil, human waste, grass and other DNA materials that they believe may help in resolving the murder.

The team had also earlier on visited the Syokimau AP Camp that was marked as crime scene and collected samples.

It is at the camp that the lawyer, his client Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri were held before they were murdered and later their bodies found in Ol-Donyo Sabuk River in Machakos County.

The camp was Wednesday attacked and burnt down by a group of protesters. But an official said the detectives had visited the camp and dusted it for DNA evidence.

The team of investigators, that include those from FBI, believe the three were bludgeoned at an open field a few metres away from the AP camp where they had been held for hours.

"Among the things they collected were human waste that will be tested to see if it originated from any of the three victims as they were being bludgeoned to death," said an official aware of the probe.

Another team of detectives is said to have left for Kisumu and western Kenya where more suspects are said to be hiding.

Officers from Homicide department at DCI headquarters, Flying Squad and those of FBI are conducting the probe.

They had also collected samples from the taxi that the three slain men were using. It was found abandoned at Kamirithu in Limuru, a day after they went missing.

Officers believe it was after the macabre murder at the scene off Mombasa Road that the three bodies were stuffed into a sack and transported to Ol-Donyo Sabuk River, almost 70km away and dumped there.

Four police officers – Senior Sergeant Fredrick Leliman, Sergeant Leonard Maina Mwangi, Corporal Stephen Chebulet and Constable Silvia Wanjiku Wanjohi – are being held as investigations continue.

Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor said the three were hit by blunt objects and strangulated.

The team pursuing the matter believe the three were abducted by three officers as they left Mavoko Law Courts and taken to the Syokimau Administration Police camp where they detained them for hours.

They, however, did not book them at the camp as required by law. They later picked them from the camp, and that was the last time the three were seen, police investigations have shown.

The investigators say they have confiscated and submitted for forensic analysis the mobile phones of the four.

"That I and my team of investigators have obtained crucial information that other persons who were involved in the killing and they are currently being pursued by the investigators," said the lead investigator Robert Owino of Flying Squad in an affidavit.

"It is believed that the respondents have other associates who are still at large."

The team pursuing the case is also retracing the movements of the taxi that the three deceased were using before it was found abandoned in Limuru.

In his affidavit, Owino said they are assessing witness vulnerability with a view of involving Witness Protection Agency.

Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has appointed four prosecutors to work with the team investigating the murder.

Kimani worked with American legal aid group International Justice Mission.

Kimani, Mwenda and Muiruri had been missing since June 23 when they left the Mavoko Law Courts before their bodies were found last Friday.