Nyeri, Kenya: A middle-aged man accused of committing an unnatural act with a goat was Tuesday sentenced to four years imprisonment by a Nyeri court.

David Mbogo Kariuki was convicted and sentenced after Chief Magistrate Wilbrodah Juma found him guilty of committing the unnatural offense, on October 12, 2013 , at Ngangarithi area of Nyeri Township.

One of the witnesses, Peter Muya told the court that he was called by his landlord who is the suspect’s grandfather to help him check on his goat that was bleating in a nearby bush.

He said in the company of other neighbors, they proceeded towards the source of the bleating, where they found the goat lying upside down with its front and hind legs tied together.

Muya said the suspect. who was stark naked, attempted to flee leaving his clothes behind, but they caught up with him.

The witness added that the goat had fainted and after it recovered, before police took it to the station together with the suspect.

Another witness, Dr. John Maina, a veterinary officer who examined the animal, said the animal had been sexually molested since the seminal contents found inside the vulva were confirmed to be from human.

While sentencing him, the magistrate observed that it could not have been coincidental that he was found naked and that the semen found in the animal was human.

She said the prosecution had proved against any reasonable doubt that he was the one who sexually molested his grandmother’s goat.

“The court appreciates that an animal cannot speak for itself and as such has set high penalties for such offenses,” the magistrate noted.

Mbogo in mitigation prayed for a noncustodial sentence in order to be of assistance to his elderly and ailing parents, but MRs Juma dismissed it, saying such a sentence cannot serve as a deterrent.

She added that the accused also required psychiatric help which he could only get while in custody.

-KNA