Nine suspects in the killing of Kamaindi chief Japhet Majau that occurred on April 30 will first undergo mental assessment before taking plea against murder charges.
The nine, Gerald Njeru, Julius Mburu, John Nthiga Kirema, Sisiria Katora Rochianga, Leah Muthoni Ngigi, Julius Njeru Kimenye, Jornard Njagi Kibuibe, Gediel Munyua Munugu and Tom Kinyua Njoka will remain in police custody until May 23 when the case will be mentioned.
The suspects were first arraigned in court on May 2 but police sought two weeks to finalize investigations and have been in custody since then.
Released
Chief Magistrate John Njoroge released a suspect Peter Karani for lack of enough evidence to charge him with the offence.
After the assessment, the nine will be charged with murder of the chief jointly with others who were not before the court.
The late 52-year-old Majau was reportedly killed by irate residents after his brother Gikware Mukengu refused to release some goats he had detained for trespassing into his parcel of land that belonged to one of the residents.
The chief is said to have proceeded to the home to solve the row when mob descended on him with crude weapons, cut his body into pieces before setting him ablaze.
Sources said that the dispute arose after remains of a resident Gitonga Kibiube were found at River Thuci, part of the place where the chief’s brother had enclosed prohibiting locals from fetching water immediately after the deceased went missing in December last year.
Chuka OCS Joseph Kinyua was on May 1 killed at Ugweri market in Embu County where he was on an arrest mission for one of the suspects in the chief’s murder.
The suspect is said to have attacked the OCS killing him on the spot and was shot to death by an officer who had accompanied the police boss.
The officer was last week on Friday laid to rest at his Karatina home in Nyeri County.
