Bomet High Court Judge Martin Muya has found a herdsman guilty of murdering his boss, a journalist cum cleric John Makibior, on August 13, 2017 at Kakimirai village in Longisa of Bomet East constituency.
Pastor Makibior was a photo journalist, editor, pastor with the Africa Gospel Church (AGC) Kericho and presenter of Radio Injili before he was beheaded and his private parts chopped off.
After search for the journalist for days, villagers found his body in a gunny bag dumped at Chulchuliet River near his home and reported the matter to the area chief who called the police to the scene of crime to collect the body.
Judge Muya said that evidence by 18 witnesses presented by prosecution confirmed that Mr Wilson Chepchilat was working for the late journalist before he disappeared from the farm the same time his boss was found dead.
Mr Chepchilat vehemently denied working for the late pastor or to have known him in anyway but the witnesses said that the accused had worked for the late over a period of seven years and knew him very well.
Justice Muya said prosecution proved their case beyond reasonable doubt that the materials recovered from the accused were the items used to kill the slain journalist.
Prosecution produced a gunny bag, a bible, a cap and clothes belonging to the deceased which were found in possession of the accused.
He said the DNA tests carried out by the government chemists presented by the prosecution revealed bloodstains found on the murder weapons used by the accused matched with the blood of the deceased.
“The evidence tabled before this court proved that the accused Mr Chepchilat murdered Makibior. He is hereby convicted accordingly. Sentencing will be on March 11, upon production of a probation report,” Justice Muya ruled.
By Joseph Obwocha
