Main suspect in Willie Kimani‘s murder case sentenced to death
Willie Kimani's murder case, the Main suspect sentenced to death by Justice Jessie Lessit with the other three handed 30, 24, and 20-year sentences, respectively
Willie Kimani’s murder case, the Main suspect sentenced to death by Justice Jessie Lessit with the other three handed 30, 24, and 20-year sentences, respectively.
The four officers accused of killing Nairobi City lawyer Willie Kimani—Fredrick Leliman (the main suspect), Stephen Cheburet, Sylvia Wanjiku, and informant Peter Ngugi—were sentenced on Friday, February 3.
Leliman was given a death sentence by Justice Jessie Lessit in her ruling, while the second accused was given a 30-year prison term.
While the police informant received a 20-year sentence, the third accused will serve 24 years in prison.
“First accused is sentenced to death in each of the three counts, the second accused is sentenced to thirty years imprisonment in each of the three terms with the prison terms running concurrently.
“The third accused is sentenced to 24 years imprisonment in each of the three counts with the prison terms running concurrently, and the fifth accused is sentenced to twenty years imprisonment,” Justice Jessie Lessit stated.
Lessit stated that she considered Sylvia Wanjiru the youngest in the group and a junior at the time of the crime. However, the judge stated that she played a role that was not dismissible.
Moreover, the court also considered the confession by informer Peter Ngugi noting that it gave the authorities a breakthrough in the case.
“It was his confession that shaped the investigation. He did not colour anything white that was black,” Lessit stated.
Justice Lessit instructed the prison department to take into account how much time each accused had been detained while the case was pending.
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Lessit also awarded the four a two-week window to challenge the verdict and their conviction.
“They have the right to appeal against both the conviction and the sentence within 14 days from today’s verdict,” Lessit stated.
The four murdered lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwendwa, and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri in 2016, and their remains were discovered in a river in Ol Donyo Sabuk in July of that same year.
Kimani’s case began in 2015 when his client, Boda Boda rider Josephat Mwenda, was accidentally shot by officer Fredrick Leliman.
Mwendwa was the target of threats and intimidation from the officer engaged in the case as he sought justice.
In an effort to have allegations against Leliman dropped, the Boda Boda rider was wrongly prosecuted in court and represented by lawyer Kimani, who then took up the case.
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