The case in which a Chinese national is charged with killing a fellow Chinese and critically injuring her husband failed to take off before a Narok High Court on Tuesday for lack of a Chinese interpreter.
When the case came up for hearing before Narok Resident Judge, Justice Justus Bwonwong`a, a Senior Assistant Director in the department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Zachary Omwega applied for an adjournment, saying they did not have a Chinese interpreter to translate the proceedings in Mandarin to the accused.
He told the court that the interpreter they had expected in court was held up in Nairobi on other emergency issues. His request was granted and the case will now be heard on February 18 and 19.
The accused, Li Chanquing, 45, is charged with the murder of Mrs. Jinli Liu, also 45 on August 8, last year at Keekorok Lodge in the Maasai Mara National Game Reserve.
He faces another charge of causing grievous harm to her husband, Yi Dong, 47 on the material day.
Chanquing is alleged to have stabbed the Chinese couple killing the woman and critically injuring the man following a disagreement over a sitting arrangement as the accused claimed the couple had taken over his table.
The accused who addressed the court through a Chinese translator has denied committing the offense and is out on a Sh. 1million bond with a surety of similar amount. He was also required to deposit his passport in court.
According to Kenya laws, the accused faces mandatory death sentence if found guilty.
Some civil societies have however been lobbying to have this penalty abolished saying it was inhuman and a violation of the right to life.
The Power of Mercy Advisory Committee led by former Attorney General, Prof. Githu Muigai who was chair then had earlier gone around the country collecting views of the public over the matter.
By Mabel Keya/Simon Kimani
