‘We killed our brother while drunk’

Three men accused of killing their elder brother seven years ago yesterday pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the High Court in Eldoret.

Sammy Koech, Frankline Kipruto and Nelson Kiptoo were accused of killing Oscar Kiplagat Kandie on November 12, 2012 at Naswa farm in Eldoret.

The court heard that Kiplagat and Koech were on a drinking spree at Moiben trading centre when a dispute arose.

When Koech left the centre for home, it is alleged that he went to Kiplagat’s house and poured water on his bed.

When Kiplagat arrived home at 1am and found his bed wet, he is said to have gone looking for Koech at a neighbour’s house while armed with a panga and a stick.

A fight ensued between the two and Koech reportedly called out for help. That is when he was joined by his other brothers, Kipruto and Kiptoo, and a mob who descended on Kiplagat and beat him up mercilessly.

The brothers later took him back home in critical condition and they went to sleep.

The next morning Kiplagat was taken to Moiben Health Centre and later referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) where he succumbed to injuries on November 12. A postmortem report said he died from severe bleeding.

Their father William Kimutai asked the court to forgive them because they have stopped drinking.

Justice Hellen Omondi referred the accused for probation report. They will be sentenced on March 6.