Five suspects to face a murder charge

Suspects Brenda Wanjiru, Maureen Wambui, Allan Muchangi and Joseph Waweru who will face murder charge over the death of university student Maureen Wanjiku Mwihaki. [Boniface Gikandi/Standard]

The body of a Chuka University student who died in mysterious circumstances will remain at the Murang’a District mortuary until a second post-mortem is conducted.

This follows requests by lawyers of five suspects being held in connection with the death of Maureen Wanjiku.

The suspects are Brenda Wanjiru, Maureen Wambui, Allan Muchangi, Joseph Waweru and Peter Kiarie, who is a doctor.

Police officer Pius Kasuni on Wednesday told Murang’a Resident Magistrate Ms Sheila Nyaga that the suspects were among the last people who were in contact with Wanjiku, before and after she attended a friend's graduation party at Murang’a University of Technology.

“I request to close the investigation file after concluding that the suspects be charged with Wanjiku's murder,” said Mr Kasuni.

Lawyer Janet Mwangi told the court that a second postmortem did not take place on Monday after Wanjiku’s relatives failed to show up at the mortuary.

The first autopsy had indicated that Wanjiku died of strangulation. Ms Nyaga ordered the suspects be remanded at Murang’a GK Prison. She further directed that the matter be mentioned on September 4 before High Court Deputy Registrar Violent Ochanda.