A man accused of threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend after being asked to settle a bill for tomatoes he purchased from the complainant’s shop has been ordered to serve six months community service order by a Kabarnet Court.
Resident magistrate Vienna Amboko in her ruling said that the court had found William Cheptumo guilty of committing the offence and ordered him to perform public work at Kilingot Day Secondary School under supervision of the principal and area village elder.
He is alleged to have committed the offence on the night of January 21, 2021 at Kingoi village in Baringo North Sub County.
The magistrate said that based on the recommendations presented to court she found the offender suitable for a non-custodial jail term and subsequently committed him to six months community service order.
She also ordered that while serving the non-custodial sentence at the public institution, the accused will undergo alcohol and substance abuse counselling.
Lydia Chepkwony, the complainant, told the court that on the material day at around 7.30pm, she was at her shop when the accused came and asked for tomatoes but when asked for the money he refused to pay.
The complainant said that after refusing to pay, the accused forcefully entered inside and grabbed a knife that was on a table and attempted to stab her.
She further told the court that her brother, Laban Chepkwony, who was outside the shop rushed inside and disarmed the accused and pushed him out of the retail shop.
Later, she added, they called and informed area assistant chief of the incident before reporting the matter to Kabartonjo Police Station the following day.
Police Constable John Kenyenya accompanied by four officers, the court heard, went to the home of accused on January 24 and arrested him while alone and drunk.
The Investigating Officer said that they recovered the knife and brought to the station as an exhibit.
The accused in his defense denied committing the offense alleging that they have been in a relationship since 2008 and that the complaint had framed the case against him.
According to a pre-sentence report presented to court by a probation officer, the local administration recommended against giving him a non-custodial sentence stating that he has a long history of anti-social behaviour.
However, the local village elder in his recommendation did not oppose the accused being given a non-custodial jail term suggesting the offender to serve community service order at Kilingot Day Secondary School.
The complainant also did not object to the accused being handed a non-custodial sentence.
BY Faith Lagat
