Courts

I had never met my six co-accused, robbery with violence suspect in Muchai murder case tells court

Butcher admits receiving Sh30,000 M-PESA money for late MP's driver but claims it for bill for lost meat

Raphael Kimani Gachie alias Butcher, one of the accused persons in the robbery with violence case involving suspects charged with the murder of former Kabete MP George Muchai, has told a Nairobi court that he had never met any of the six co-accused persons.

Kimani, who was put in his defence before the Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, told the court that he is innocent and he came to knew the reason of his arrest during a miscellaneous application seeking his detention.
He narrated before the trial magistrate the ordeal which led to his arrest in February 14, 2015, in his rented house in Rironi before he was later charged with offences of robbery with violence and murder.
The 44 years-old butcher was born in Muthangari in Kangemi, denied being part of the gang that murdered  Muchai in February 6, 2015.
He said that on the day of his arrest was at his rental house in Rironi when he was called by an Unknown number which never responded after he answered the call,
“I was called by a new number which I picked but the caller remained silent. I thought it was a customer who wanted to make an order but within 15 minutes, I heard a knock on my door,” Kimani said.
He opened the door and saw five armed police officers who ordered him to get back into the house, surrender and without a word, one of the police officers hit him on the head with the butt of his gun making him to fall down.
According to him, the officers searched the house and they did not find whatever they were looking for.
After the search, one of the officers asked him in Kiswahili, “Ndereva wa Muchai alikutumia pesa ya nini?” Muchai’s driver sent you money for what?
Kimani admitted before the court to receive Ksh 30,000 from the driver but he denied he knew him, adding that the line he used to call was not personal but a business line which customers used to call making orders.
“Your honour I was operating a butchery and I had two employees. I used to roast meat for customers even in their homes if they call and request. My telephone numbers were everywhere from Westlands ABC Plaza to Gitaru Junction where I had produced posters advertising my work,” he said.
He said that when the money was sent, the caller made an order for 50 kilogrammes of roast meat and 100 roast bananas to his employee Francis Kamau since he never used to carry a business phone with him.
He told the court that each kilogramme of meat was Ksh 500 by then while a banana was Ksh 30.
He alleged that the caller sent the money for the orders and a tip of Ksh 1,000 to his two workers.
He said that he was later handcuffed, bundled into a waiting car before his head and upper body were covered by a sack.
The police took his two phones, make Techno and Nokia, and took him to Nairobi Area police headquarters.
At the station, he said the officers continued to interrogate him about the money which was sent via the number alleged to be that of Muchai’s driver who he persistently claims not to know and who he was.
“I used to receive many calls and acknowledged them as customers since no other interaction I used to have with them,” he reiterated.
Kimani also informed the court that he never dealt with the driver who was served by his employees John Ndegwa, who later died in 202, and  Francis Kamau who he cannot tell how to find him 10 years since he was arrested.
The arresting officers relocated him several times to Railways Police Station and then taking him back to Nairobi Area. At the station, he said police took him to Rhodes Hospital with the intention of having his blood samples  taken but the attendant refused requesting the order from court.
They also took him to Mbagathi Hospital seeking the same but the attendants refused demanding an order from court.
He was later brought to court where the magistrate ordered him be taken to government chemist for the DNA samples extraction and also treatment of the head injuries he suffered during the time of arrest.
On March 19, 2015, he told the magistrate that he was astonished when he was charged in court alongside six others with offences of being in possession of a firearm without a licence and being in possession of 15 rounds of ammunition.
Kimani was charged alongside six others Eric Isabwa, Mustapha Kimani, Stephen Astiva, Jane Wanjiru, Margaret Njeri and Simon Wambugu.
The prosecution called 36 witnesses some of them being police officers, civilians and experts.
The defence hearing will continue tomorrow for further submissions and cross examination.
See also  Muchai murder suspects allowed to defend themselves in violent robbery case

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