Phone firm presents call logs of suspects in principal’s murder

Jane Muthoni (right) who is the prime suspect in the murder of her husband Solomon Mwangi who was the principal of Kiru boys chats with his lawyer Francis Njanja at Nakuru High court on October 25,2018 when she appeared before Justice Joel Ngugi for the mention of the case. [Photo:Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

Details of communication between three people charged with the killing of Kiru Boys Principal Solomon Mwangi have emerged.

Analysis of phone data presented in court during the hearing of the case yesterday showed that there was communication between at least four individuals.

Vincent Babu of Airtel Mobile Company, who testified in the case against Jane Muthoni, Mr Mwangi's widow, told the court there was constant communication between the accused persons.

Muthoni is a former Icaciri High School principal and has been accused of killing her husband.

She, together with Isaack Ng’ang’a alias Gikuyu, allegedly committed the offence on diverse dates between November 6 and November 11, 2016, at Karakuta Coffee Estate in Juja sub-county in Kiambu County.

Babu told the court that they received an order from Milimani Law Courts for certified call data for two mobile phones – 0733275554 and 0750011032 – between November 1, 2016, and November 15, 2016.

He said he was able to retrieve call data records and the details for the two mobile phones.  Babu testified that the mobile number 0750011032 was registered to Joseph Kariuki.

From his analysis, Babu told the court that on November 2, 2016, at around 1603hrs, there was an outgoing voice call from Kariuki’s number to 0721212701, a number belonging to Nelson Magati.

Magati, who has been linked to the murder, has not been arrested while Kariuki is serving a seven-year jail term after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in March 2017.

Due to his confession, his murder charge was reduced to manslaughter. He told the court he was remorseful as his actions were only motivated by the money he was offered.

He also offered to testify in the murder trial of Mwangi’s widow.

The phone records presented in court yesterday also showed that between 1603hrs and 1609hrs, there were outgoing and incoming calls from Magati.

Kariuki, on November 2, 2016, at 1614hrs, contacted Ng’ang’a through 0733275554 while in Ruiru. 

Phone numbers

“Immediately after communicating with the Airtel number at 1643hrs, Kariuki called Magati, this went on at 1644hrs,” said Babu.

He said Kariuki kept communicating with the two phone numbers and his location indicated he was in Ruiru.

On November 6, 2016, at 1335hrs, Kariuki called Magati and the call lasted 64 seconds. This time round, he was at Thika Riverside. Again at 1338hrs, Kariuki communicated with Magati.

“Immediately he communicated with the number at 1345hrs, he (Kariuki) received a call from a number 0721297604 belonging to Jane Muthoni (wife of the deceased). The incoming call lasted 133 seconds and the man was at River Side Thika.

In his analysis of the mobile phone number 0733275554, the witness said the number, through the company's know your customer, was registered under Isaac Ng’ang’a Wambui.

On November 2, 2016, at 1614hrs, there was an incoming call from Kariuki to 0733275554 and at the same time an outgoing call was registered.

“On November 2, 2016, Joseph Kariuki communicated with Isaac Wambui,” he stated.

The data extraction and analyst’s expert was testifying during cross-examination by lawyer Francis Njanja, representing Muthoni and Ng’ang’a.

He further said that Kariuki on November 4, 2016 at  727hrs was at Kwa Maiko area and made a call to another number he identified as 0724709305. 

On the same date at around 1422hrs, Ng’ang’a received a call from Kariuki that lasted 101 seconds. Kariuki was around Mangu while Ng’ang’a was at Gatundu.

Sergeant Herdson Meigiri, a crime scene officer, also testified and produced photos he took in relation to the murder.

The hearing will continue on February 25 and 26.