Police officer investigating murder case facing a university student summoned

24 year old Edmond Ruto at Nakuru High court on May 24,2018 when he appeared to answer murder charges. Ruto is accused of killing his girlfriend Cynthia Chelangat a fourth year student at Egerton University [Photo/Kipsang Joseph]

The investigating officer in a murder case facing a university student charged with killing his girlfriend has been summoned by the Court.

The court in Nakuru issued the orders after prosecutor Amos Chigiti pleaded with the court to issue summons to the officer Alex Muinde.

Chigiti while in court on Tuesday said witnesses in the case are yet to be bonded by the investigating officer adding that some items forwarded to the Government Chemist for analysis are yet to be availed.

The items which are yet to be made according to the prosecution is what many witnesses will make reference to.

“The Investigating officer has not been able to summon witnesses and some items were forwarded to the Government Chemist are yet to be availed,” Chigiti said.

Ruto is alleged to have killed Cynthia Chelang'at, 22, a Bachelor of Agriculture student, on February 19, 2018, at Njokerio estate in Njoro, Nakuru County.

Chelang’at was in her fourth year of studies.

He denied killing Chelang’at when he was arraigned in Court in March 2018.

Ruto allegedly raided the house where the deceased lived and stabbed her before turning the knife on himself. He was rescued and rushed to hospital where he received treatment.

A pre-bail report presented in court concerning Ruto shows that he had lived with the deceased for four years.

He allegedly lived with Chelang’at from September 2014 and had intentions of marrying her.

According to the report, Mr Ruto had been a student at Egerton University since September 2013 and was studying economics and statistics.

But lack of college fees compelled him to defer his studies in September 2014 to May 2015. He resumed his studies as a second-year student in September 2017.

In the report, differences between the couple arose when the woman, who was also an Egerton University student, opted to move out and live with her cousin.

Lawyer Gordon Ogola representing Ruto said he is yet to receive witness statements in the case.

The case will be mentioned on September 16, 2019.