Man to hang for killing lover he accused of aborting his child

The High Court has sentenced a man to death after finding him guilty of killing a woman alleged to have aborted his child.

Isaac Kirugo was sentenced for killing Jane Wanjiru on September 2008 after a love dispute.

While giving his judgment, Justice Nicholas Ombija said Mr Kirugo had acted out of jealousy and rage after discovering that Wanjiru had aborted his child.

Justice Ombija said evidence presented before court had shown the accused had committed the crime and taken poison after the body was discovered to avoid paying for the offence.

"I have considered the evidence presented and find the accused guilty and will give my judgment according to the law," the judge said.

According to evidence adduced by the prosecution, the body of the deceased was discovered in parts; the legs dismembered and hidden in two locations - one in a bore hole at local nursery school, and another on a Gachie plot in Kiambu County, where the accused worked as a caretaker.

Justice Ombija said the post-mortem report shows the killing and dismembering of the body, betrayed a man conversant with the ways of surgery and flesh-cutting.

Kirugo defended himself by saying he had taken poisoned tea at a restaurant in Kiambu and fell sick after arriving home. Neighbours found him unconscious and took him to hospital.

He also denied sending threatening messages to the deceased's boyfriend, Kenneth Thuku, who also had a son with her.

Kirugo denied he was in possession of a cell-phone that was recovered from his pocket when he was being taken to hospital.

However, Justice Ombija said evidence had shown that the accused was jealous because the deceased seemed to love Thuku more.

Before his sentence, Kirugo asked the court to be lenient with him saying he had acted out of rage and love.

Justice Ombija declined politely saying his hands were tied since he had to make the judgment based on the law.