A woman from Subukia will remain in police custody for seven days to allow police complete investigations after she was accused of killing her husband.
A Nyahururu court allowed police to hold Ms. Marylene Nduku after the investigating officer asked the court for 10 more days to complete their inquiries into the matter.
“We are yet to record the statements of key witnesses, we therefore request for more time to gather enough evidence, that maybe important in the prosecution of the suspect,” noted Inspector Geoffrey Leboo while swearing in an affidavit.
He also said that postmortem to ascertain the cause of death had also not been conducted adding that the suspect also needed to be done a mental assessment to ascertain her state of mind to stand trial.
However, appearing for the accused person Mr. Martin Waichungu objected the application by the officer to hold the suspect for 10 days noting that seven days were enough for them to complete their investigations.
Mr. Waichungu also applied that his client be allowed access to her counsel and close family members.
“I am also requesting the court that if any interrogations and question will be conducted on the accused person to be conducted in presence of her counsel and the counsel be notified in advance,” noted the Lawyer.
However, while responding to the application, Senior Resident Magistrate James Wanyanga ordered the accused to be taken to Nakuru Provincial General Hospital for a mental assessment to determine her mental state before she is subjected to trial.
The magistrate directed that the accused person be detained at Subukia police station for seven days.
“I direct that the suspect be allowed to access her lawyer and close family members,” said the Magistrate adding that her lawyer should also be present during grilling of the accused person.
Ms Nduku is suspected of murdering her husband Harun Mutua at Waseges village in Subukia constituency in Nakuru County on October 15, this year.
She however did not take plea to the charges. The case will be mentioned on November 28, 2019.
By David Njoroge
