Son who killed his father over treatment money arraigned in court

Eldoret,

Thursday, 28 September 2023,

KNA by Kiptanui Cherono

A 32-year-old man accused of killing his father for allegedly denying him money to seek treatment in a hospital has been charged in an Eldoret Court.

The prosecution preferred murder charges against the suspect, Silas Mwenda after a second psychiatric report from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, MTRH which was presented before Eldoret High Court Judge Reuben Nyakundi declared him fit to take a plea.

Mwenda, who was represented by lawyer Damaris Gesare, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

On August 14, 2023, the accused failed to take a plea when he was first brought to court after the first psychiatric report from the same hospital stated that he was not fit to stand trial. 

This forced the Presiding Judge to defer his plea to pave the way for a second mental assessment to be carried out on the suspect at the public facility.

The particulars of the offenses state that the accused killed his father, John Marete on March 1st, 2023 at Kipkaren estate on the outskirts of Eldoret town in Kapseret sub-county, Uasin Gishu County.

On the fateful day, the accused is said to have approached his parents and sibling saying that he was feeling unwell and requested for money to go for treatment in a nearby hospital. 

However, his plea was ignored by his family, prompting the accused to pick a meat grinder from his parent’s house to go and sell so as to raise money for his treatment.

The deceased, who was armed with two wooden sticks, confronted his son, demanding to know why he was taking his meat grinder for sale without his consent.

The two exchanged bitter words before the accused overpowered his father, snatched one of the sticks, and used it to hit the deceased twice on the head leading to his death.

Justice Nyakundi set the hearing of the case for December 13, 2023.

Courtesy; KNA