Judge warns against prosecution reports

Joyce Okoti, Bernard Aburuiri, Patrick Anyangu and David Okoti are among seven accused of murder they claimed that they were denied witness statements on which they had to rely on their defense. Picture:Robert Amalemba/Standard.

High Court judge Chacha Mwita has warned against denying lawyers prosecution statements. The judge told the prosecutors to guard against returning the Judiciary to the past where lawyers could not access police statements of their clients.

 Justice Chacha took a swipe at the offices of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Directorate of Criminal Investigations on prosecution statements after seven people accused of murder complained. Geodfrey Madegwa, Joyce Okoti, Bernard Aburuiri, Patrick Anyangu, David Okoti, John Manyasa and Jackson Amukoya had complained that their attempts to reach the DPP and the DCIO’s officers for the said statements had proven difficult. The seven are accused of murdering Jessica Rogena.

Through their lawyers, the seven read mischief in denying them the statements. “We have been impended to access statements the prosecution intends to rely on to prosecute the accused,” said lawyer Carlestous Shifwoka.

The seven, appearing for the mention of their case yesterday also argued that they were being subjected to victimisation by being denied bail. Chacha ruled that the statements be made available.