The Mountain Times :- We've Got you covered

A Kirinyaga County housewife accused of  murdering   an assistant chief  has filed an   application  seeking the  State to charge her with a lesser offense.

Jedidah Wanja who is accused of stabbing to death the Kiamugumo Assistant Chief Dennis Magu on the night of Dec 15, 2021 wants the murder charge which she denied before  Hatari Waweru of Nanyuki High Court  reduced  to   manslaughter .

Through her Lawyer Kemunto Magara,Wanja said she has already served a pre-bargain request to the office of the DPP for consideration, upon which the lead prosecutor Vincent Mamba confirmed receipt yesterday.

Wanja also pleaded with the court  to release her on reasonable  bond terms ,an application  that was vehemently objected by the deceased's family lawyer Mwangi Ndegwa.

Ndegwa cited possible   interference of the lined up witnesses by the accused who include her own children whose  father  she is said to have murdered if released on bond .

 Magara  while applying for bod had told court that it was the accused's constitutional right to be granted bail as there were no compelling reasons to continue holding Wanja in custody .

Magara  further defended her release pledging to comply with all directives  the court will issue reading the matter.

issued  by the court.

Justice   Richard Mwongo consequently  ordered  that both bail and   the  reduction of the murder charge  applications  be filed and served to the  parties on or before February 1,2022.

In addition Mwongo  further ordered  that the court be provided  with an impact assessment report on the accused so as to consider  whether  she was  fit to be released on bond by a Probation  officer  on  February 8 .

"The probation officer needs to conduct a probe on her background, social status and whether if released her security will be guaranteed and if not, what other options could  be applied to ensure her safety," Mwongo directed

A Kirinyaga County housewife accused of  murdering   an assistant chief  has filed an   application  seeking the  State to charge her with a lesser offense.

Jedidah Wanja who is accused of stabbing to death the Kiamugumo Assistant Chief Dennis Magu on the night of Dec 15, 2021 wants the murder charge which she denied before  Hatari Waweru of Nanyuki High Court  reduced  to   manslaughter .

Through her Lawyer Kemunto Magara,Wanja said she has already served a pre-bargain request to the office of the DPP for consideration, upon which the lead prosecutor Vincent Mamba confirmed receipt yesterday.

Wanja also pleaded with the court  to release her on reasonable  bond terms ,an application  that was vehemently objected by the deceased's family lawyer Mwangi Ndegwa.

Ndegwa cited possible   interference of the lined up witnesses by the accused who include her own children whose  father  she is said to have murdered if released on bond .

 Magara  while applying for bod had told court that it was the accused's constitutional right to be granted bail as there were no compelling reasons to continue holding Wanja in custody .

Magara  further defended her release pledging to comply with all directives  the court will issue reading the matter.

issued  by the court.

Justice   Richard Mwongo consequently  ordered  that both bail and   the  reduction of the murder charge  applications  be filed and served to the  parties on or before February 1,2022.

In addition Mwongo  further ordered  that the court be provided  with an impact assessment report on the accused so as to consider  whether  she was  fit to be released on bond by a Probation  officer  on  February 8 .

"The probation officer needs to conduct a probe on her background, social status and whether if released her security will be guaranteed and if not, what other options could  be applied to ensure her safety," Mwongo directed

At the same time Mwongo directed the defense to give clearer substantiation on the bail terms the accused was seeking  to be released on pointing out that the term reasonable bail  was  'vague' and as such  required  clarification.

At the same time Mwongo directed the defense to give clearer substantiation on the bail terms the accused was seeking  to be released on pointing out that the term reasonable bail  was  'vague' and as such  required  clarification.