The Machakos High Court has ordered a mental assessment of the two main suspects in the murder of Mlolongo-based hairdresser Jennifer Mwende.
The suspects, Faith Nthemba and Evelyn Wanza, will undergo the test at the Machakos Level Five Hospital to determine if they are mentally fit to stand trial.
The two appeared today before Judge Margaret Mungai but did not take pleas.
They will, however, be presented before the court on October 19 to face the charges.
Judge Muigai also ordered the suspects to undergo medical examinations at the same hospital after they complained of torture by the officers investigating the murder case.
Through their lawyer, the duo accused police at the Mlolongo Police Station, where they were arrested and convicted of torture, including sexual assault and strangulation.
The court also ordered the suspects to be taken to the Machakos police station to make official reports on the allegations of torture for investigations to be conducted.
Judge Muigai also directed the suspects to be moved from Mlolongo Police Station and detained at the Machakos GK Prisons, and that no police officer from Mlolongo Police Station should be allowed to access the two.
The suspects were arrested in connection with the killing of the hairdresser, whose body was found dumped in a pit latrine in Mlolongo town last month.
A postmortem revealed that the hairdresser died of strangulation. The mother of one was buried at her parents’ home in Katangi, Yatta sub-county.
By Roselyne Kavoo
