Five suspects in Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were’s murder trial charged afresh
reviously, Shigali, Odour, and Ochieng had denied the murder charges at the Kibera High Court while Kuria and Omondi was held at the Milimani Law Court
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has consolidated murder charges against five suspects in the murder of Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were, who have been charged afresh.
The cases were previously filed at the Kibera and Milimani Law Courts.
Kibera Law Court Judge Diana Kavedza approved the consolidation application, allowing the prosecution to proceed with a joint case against all five accused.
The court heard that William Imoli Shigali alias Imo, Edwin Odour Odhiambo alias Machuani, Ebel Ochieng alias Dave Calo, Isaac Kuria Chege alias Kush, and Allan Omondi Ogola allegedly murdered Were on the evening of April 30 at around 7:40 pm near the City Mortuary Roundabout along Ngong Road in Kilimani, Nairobi.
Previously, Shigali, Odour, and Ochieng had denied the murder charges at the Kibera High Court, while Kuria and Omondi had done the same at the Milimani Law Court.
Justice Kavedza scheduled a bond ruling for Shigali, Odour, and Ochieng on August 14 with a separate bond hearing for Kuria and Omondi set for September 22.
During the last court session on June 4, Ochieng, a board member at the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), caused drama when he issued death threats to a prosecutor accusing him of blocking their release om bail.
The court heard had sought to know from Police Constable Damian Mlongo the identity of the person seeking to have them stay in custody before issuing the threat forcing the prosecutor, Alan Muluma, to leave the courtroom.
“The suspect said ‘huyu ni nani hataki tuachiliwe’. We told him that it was the prosecutor. Then he said ‘huyo tutamuua,” Mlongo told the court.
It is then that the prosecution sought their continued detention pending a probe by the police.
“The Court heard from a court orderly that when the court had taken a break for the judge to give directions, one of the suspects, Ebel Ochieng Alias Dave Calo, reached out to the court orderly officer and inquired who the prosecutor was and threatened to kill him for opposing them being granted bail,” the prosecution submitted.
“This is deeply troubling. We intend to pursue this matter conclusively with the police. The court’s intervention is urgently needed,” it added.
Justice Kavedza ruled, who termed the threats as unfortunate and shocking, proceeded to deny Ochieng and his co-accused bail and directed that they be remanded at the Nairobi Industrial Remand pending mental assessment.
“I take note that the accused person has threatened to kill the prosecutor. The mere utterance of the words ‘huyu tutamuua’—the question is, what about the witnesses? It is unfortunate. I’m bereft of words. On these grounds, the three are denied bond/bail. I know now you stay in a good place but you will be remanded at Nairobi Industrial Remand. The first accused is to be escorted to Mathari Hospital for assessment,” she remarked in her ruling.
She further directed that he be held in solidary confinement
