High Court rejects family’s bid to drop murder charges against police officer

The court noted that reconciliation does not apply for murder cases. [iStockphoto]

The High Court has rejected an application by a family to withdraw a case against a police officer accused of killing their kin on July 30.

Constable Peter Kinoti reportedly shot and killed 29-year-old Morris Mutuma at Kimachia, Tigania West, in Meru County.

Kinoti took a plea on September 8 and denied killing Mutuma and was released on a bond of Sh300,000.

And now the late Mutuma's family, led by his mother Joyce Mburung’a, brothers Wilfred Mburung’a and Festus Murega, and cousins Joshua Mutwiri and Nicholas Gitonga, has filed an application to stop the case from proceeding to trial saying they have opted to solve the matter in a traditional way "to safeguard their cordial relationship with the local community."

However, the prosecution has opposed the application, saying the matter is a felony that can only be withdrawn by the Director of the Public Prosecutions.

The court noted that reconciliation does not apply for murder cases.

Justice Muriithi said he will set the date the case will be heard in consultation with the DPP.