Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) today has welcomed a guilty verdict against three police officers for the deaths of Willie Kimani, Joseph Muiruri and Josephat Mwenda.
According to IPOA the judgement issued by Lady Justice Jessie Lessit, notes the gist of the murder trial was a plot to silence Mwenda.
Mwendwa was a bodaboda rider who before his death had lodged a complaint with the IPOA, against Fredrick Leliman, one of the three officers found guilty on three counts of murder.
At the time of the killings, on June 23, 2016, the Authority was investigating Leliman for the shooting of Mwenda, in which he sustained injuries on April, 10, 2015.
Leliman was found guilty alongside his colleagues Stephen Cheburet Morogo and Sylvia Wanjiku Wanjohi as well as police informer Peter Ngungi Kamau.
“This should serve not only as a relief to the relatives, friends and colleagues of the deceased persons but a deterrent to law enforcement officers who use their power to infringe on the rights of citizens as well as frustrate efforts of the agencies that the public look-up to, when seeking redress for their grievances”, said justice Jessie Lessit.
A fourth police officer Leonard Maina Mwangi was acquitted after the court gave him a benefit of doubt.
The learned Judge noted that the murder of Mwenda was plotted and planned to compromise an IPOA investigation, in which the first convict, Leliman was accused of using a privately-owned firearm to shoot and injure Mwenda.
“Besides the Court, IPOA also thanks partners who made the conclusion of this matter possible including the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions and the International Justice Mission as well as the professional officers of the National Police Service,” IPOA said in a statement.
The three police officers and a civilian were found guilty of the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josphat Mwendwa and a taxi driver Joseph Muiruri six years ago.
While giving the final verdict, High Court judge Lady Justice Jessie Lessit ruled that the four officers Fredrick ole Leliman, Stephen Cheburet Morogo, Sylvia Wanjohi and one civilian Peter Ngugi were all guilty of murder.
However, one of the accused persons Leonard Maina was acquitted of the charges levelled against him in the brutal murder of the renowned lawyer.
During the proceedings the court ruled that Fredrick ole Leliman was the bearer of the motive to murder the three based on police radio tracking evidence.
While issuing the verdict on Friday, Justice Lessit said that the prosecution had proven the case against the four beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Lessit adding the findings by the court found the three guilty of three counts of murder.
“I accordingly reject their defences find them guilty as charged and convict them accordingly under section 322 of the criminal procedure Code,” Justice Lessit said.
Justice Lessit also ruled that Sylvia Wanjohiwho was the third accused, remained at the Syokimau Police Post from 9am to past 7pm when the three deceased persons were alive in the cells.
On the same breath second accused Stephen Morogo and fifth accused Peter Ngugi the court ruled that they were principal offenders for taking an active role in the kidnapping of the deceased.
The court also ruled the accused concealed their missing vehicle, detaining them without their disclosure and ferrying them to their murder scene.