A Kisii court has set the hearing date of the case where three-year-old Junior Sagini’s eyes were gouged out on the 24th of February and 3rd of March.
Kisii Senior Resident Magistrate, Christine Ogweno issued the directive when the three suspects in the case, Pacifica Nyakerario, Alex Ochogo, and Rael Mayieka appeared before the court for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday.
Prosecutor Hillary Kaino told the court they had received medical reports of the accused persons and witness statements and were ready for the trial.
Kaino said they were in the process of recording statements from the two minors (Baby Sagini and his sister) in the case and the same will be shared with the suspects in good time to prepare for defence.
The Prosecutor together with lawyers watching brief for the victim also made an application to amend the earlier charge of attempted murder to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm based on the evidence they had gathered.
The Senior Resident Magistrate considered the application and the new charge was read to the suspects who pleaded not guilty.
In addition to setting the dates for hearing, the court appointed lawyers Kerosi Ondieki and Violet Moguche to represent the accused persons during the period of trial.
The SRM also directed the investigating officer to meet the newly appointed legal team of the suspects and share all statements and documents that will be relied on during the trial.
Baby Sagini was found in a maize plantation with his eyes plucked off at Ikuruma village, Marani Sub County, on the 14th of December, 2023 and rushed to Kisii Eye Hospital for treatment.
The boy had gone to fetch water from a nearby spring accompanied by other children but abandoned them along the way and failed to return home, prompting his family to begin a frantic search for him.
The three-year-old and his sister are currently under witness protection and are recuperating well as told by the legal team representing them in court.
By Mercy Osongo
