Court frees woman who killed brother over Sh200

The judge sentenced the accused to one-and-a-half years on probation. [iStockphoto]

A woman who confessed to killing her brother has been set free by the High Court in Eldoret after she entered a plea-bargain with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

Justice Eric Ogola, while ordering for the release of Sharry Jerop from remand, noted that the 23-year-old mother of one had been remorseful and was ready to be integrated back into society.

The judge sentenced the accused to one-and-a-half years on probation, having served the same amount of time in remand.

According to court documents, Jerop is said to have killed Benson Kibichi, 30, who was her only brother. The charge sheet indicated that the murder took place on December 20, 2020, at Chebusie village in Keiyo South, Elgeyo Marakwet county.

The siblings had engaged in a fight over Sh200 before the accused took a piece of wood which she used to hit her brother on the head.

Her brother, who neighbours rushed to Kamworor Hospital as he bled profusely, was pronounced dead on arrival at the facility.

A postmortem produced in court indicated that the deceased suffered primary traumatic brain injury caused by blunt force trauma to the head.

Jerop asked the court to pardon her, stating that she was drunk on the fateful day and did not plan to kill her brother. In her mitigation, she asked the court for a second chance, adding that she had a six-year-old child who needed her care.

She told the court she had been in remand since her arrest and that she had reformed, taken Bible studies and was seeking a second chance in life.

The prosecution told the court that the family had forgiven their daughter and requested a non-custodial sentence.

"In the circumstances of this case, a father has lost a son whose death was caused by the daughter. A plea-bargain has been reached and the accused is remorseful and has a young child. I am satisfied that she needs the mercy of this court," said Justice Ogola.