Drama in court as robbery suspect refuses to take plea

A suspect refused to disembark from a police vehicle that had taken him to a Nakuru court for plea taking.

Simon Sigei is suspected to have killed a man, Peter Bore, and his daughter, Judy Chepkoir after he attacked and robbed them.

The accused was also alleged to have attacked and defiled Chepkorir’s two daughters aged nine and 12.

The charge sheet indicated that Sigei, jointly with others, while armed with machetes, rungus and a hammer, robbed Bore of his mobile phone, identity card and money, all valued at Sh68,000.

The charge sheet also indicated that the raid happened on the night of February 12 at Boror area in Rongai sub-county within Nakuru County.

Police, however, said the suspect had not spoken since he was booked at Menengai police station on April 23.

And when he was taken to court on Monday, Sigei refused to disembark and remained inside the police car muttering to himself with his eyes closed.

Refused to talk

This prompted Principal Magistrate Faith Munyi to take the court session to the police vehicle. Investigating Officer Daniel Gichuki told the court the suspect had refused to talk since his arrest and at some point refused to eat.

“The accused has not responded to any of our questions or any conversation. He has just been sleeping,” he said.

He added that the accused had refused to eat or drink and that at some point police had to forcibly feed him.

“We were forced to carry and drag the accused from the cells to the police vehicle since he is weak, unable to walk and had refused to be brought to court,” he said.

The investigators were under pressure to produce the suspect in court for plea taking despite his condition.

On Monday, Munyi postponed the plea taking to May 6 after she noticed the accused was unresponsive.

She also ordered the Deputy Registrar of the High Court to be present during the plea taking in line with Section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The Section allows for an officer of court to plead on behalf of accused persons if they go mute during plea taking or if they are unable to answer directly on the plea they wish to enter.

The court also directed that the accused be taken for mental assessment at the Rift Valley Provisional General Hospital.

“The accused to be remanded at Nakuru GK prison pending the plea and bond terms application,” directed the magistrate.