Baringo man pleads guilty of manslaughter

Kabarnet, Tuesday June 13, 2023

KNA by Caroline Cherono 

A 41-year-old man Monday pleaded guilty of causing the death of Japheth Kiprop at Kaplel village, Sacho ward, Baringo Central Sub-County on 25th September 2019 after hitting him on the forehead with a piece of wood after they differed while taking alcohol.

Kandie admitted the manslaughter charge before Kabarnet High court Judge Lady Justice Rachael Ng'etich. "I am guilty of the offence," Kandie said.

According to the police statement read by the prosecution led by Joseck Abwajo, the accused invited two friends; Samson Kiptui and Saulo Konga for a drink at his home and a few minutes later the deceased arrived looking drunk. 

He then ordered the deceased to leave his home claiming he (the deceased) had killed someone in the village in 2018 but he refused.

It was then that he took a piece of wood and hit the deceased on the forehead and he collapsed.

Upon seeing the deceased bleeding, the accused chased away Kiptui and Konga from his home and they ran away shouting for help and were met by a crowd on the road who were gathering to witness the crime after they heard the screams.

A neighbor, Alfred Swai ran to the homestead where he claimed to have heard the accused shouting “I will kill you” and found the deceased lying on the floor soaked in a pool of blood. He alerted the area assistant chief who arrived and called the Kabarnet police.

When police arrived at the scene, they arrested the suspect and transferred the body to Baringo County referral hospital for post mortem.

The statement indicated that the post mortem that was conducted by a government pathologist Dr. Wangari Wambugu confirmed that the cause of death was internal hemorrhage secondary to hitting.

An investigation officer attached to DCI Baringo Central Sub-County James Muchiri presented before court the piece of wood as exhibit.

Lady Justice Ng’etich adjourned the case to 5th, July when the probation report will be presented before court as well as the accused present his mitigation.

Courtesy ; K. N. A