A 27 year old murder suspect whose bond was cancelled by Kiambu High court Judge Lady Justice Christine Meoli on account that he was threatening and interfering with witnesses has opted for plea bargain.
Samuel Ndung’u Njoroge had been charged with murdering his father, Peter Njoroge Karima at Kagwe trading centre in Lari sub-county on 10th August 2017. He pleaded not guilty and the case scheduled to be heard for two days last week, when witnesses told the court they were not ready and required more time.
Upon last week’s cancellation of his Sh500, 000 bond deposited by his mother-in-law after his arrest in 2017, Njoroge while in custody at Nairobi Remand home reflected on the magnitude of the charges before him and changed his mind.
On Monday, his lawyer Mr. Maxwell Njehu told the court that he was opting for a plea bargain so that he could negotiate for a lesser charge of manslaughter.
His step mother Esther Njeri Njoroge who was also remanded for reneging to testify, thus wasting the court’s valuable time for two days similarly agreed to testify to avoid imprisonment.
Njeri who was lined as the first witness by the prosecution was remanded for being a hostile witness to the court. She had told the court last week that she would not testify against her son and even if she would, not until April 2020 after consulting him.
It was at this point that Lady Justice Meoli cautioned the parties that the State had a duty to protect all lives and that it was not a matter which they could settle at home the way they deemed fit, and as such remanded the duo for a week.
But yesterday when the case came for a mention, Njeri, through her lawyer Helen Wangechi told the court that she was now ready to testify.
Justice Meoli said then that Njeri was a retractory witness and that she was liable to be treated in the manner provided for by the law.
Efforts by the Njoroge’s lawyer Mr.Njehu to have the court lift the detention orders were futile as Justice Meoli reiterated that he shall remain in custody until his case is finalized.
The case will now be heard on 9th and 10th December 2019.It will further be mentioned on 24th June before Deputy Registrar.
By Lydia Shiloya
