Psychiatrist says accused denied having any medical problem

Isaac Wanyoike and his wife Jacinta Ndunge at Thika law courts where they were charged with tourturing their 10 months old baby by inserting needles in her body.They denied the charge and were remanded until December 11 when the case will be mentioned.PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE.

A mother charged with torturing her 10-month-old daughter by inserting needles in her body is mentally fit to stand trial.

A mental assessment report presented in court said Jacinta Ndunge, 31, was mentally fit and could be tried for the offence. 

Mrs Ndunge and her husband Isaac Gichure, 42, were on December 5 charged in a Thika court with subjecting their child to torture by inserting 14 sewing needles into her buttocks.  

The court ordered the mental examination following an application by prosecution counsel Beatrice Kariuki who argued it was necessary as the two accused persons were the primary caregivers of the child.

Ms Kariuki also justified the application, saying there were other children under the custody of accused persons.

The report seen by The Standard and signed by JS Kitili, a consultant psychiatrist at Thika Level 5 Hospital, said the accused denied having any medical or psychiatric problem during the assessment and said she did not use any psychoactive substance.

ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR

Constable Elizabeth Mwanzia also indicated in the report the accused had not portrayed any abnormal behaviour during the time she had been in remand.

“During the interview and assessment, Jacinta Ndunge has been calm and able to express herself well. There is no disorder of speech, mood, perception, thought and cognition noted. She is therefore not suffering from mental illness and she is fit to stand trial," reads part of the report.

The prosecution told the court the probation report, which was expected in court, was not yet ready and pleaded for more time.

Thika Resident Magistrate Brenda Bartoo ordered the case be mentioned on Friday when the court will give its verdict on whether the two would be released on bond and also for the tabling of the probation report.

The couple will, however, remain in custody.

Last month, doctors at Thika Level 5 Hospital removed 13 needles out of the 14 needles from the infant’s buttocks.

However, medics are still grappling with how to remove the remaining one, with fears that its removal might lead to nerve damage.