Rancher has faced Judge Apondi twice

By Nancy Akinyi

High Court judge Justice Muga Apondi has had two chances of trying Tom Cholmondeley for murder.

The famous rancher first appeared before the judge in a Nakuru court in 2005, when he was charged with the murder of Kenya Wild Life Service ranger Samson ole Sisina.

Luckily, Cholmondeley did face a full trial because the Attorney General’s office terminated the murder charge against him.

Then Director of Public Prosecutions Philip Murgor rushed to the Nakuru court to present the nolle prosequi (I refuse to prosecute order) and told the judge his hands were tied.

Mr Murgor said the evidence could not support a murder case.

Family shock

Sisina’s family was shocked at the termination, since it meant the death of their breadwinner would not be properly investigated.

Soon, Justice Apondi was transferred to Nairobi Law Courts in a judicial reshuffle and within less than a year, the rancher shot dead stonemason Robert Njoya.

Cholmondeley could not be tried at the Nakuru Law Courts because of what the State termed a hostile environment for his trial.

He was brought to Nairobi Law Courts in 2006, and again appeared before Justice Apondi for a second murder charge.