Eldoret,

Sunday, March 19, 2023

K.N.A

By Kiptanui Cherono

An Eldoret Court has warned a murder suspect out on bond that he risks his bond being cancelled for subjecting two key State witnesses to threats and intimidations.

Eldoret High Court Judge Wananda Robert warned the suspect Joseph Ngetich that he would not hesitate to cancel his bond if he continued intimidating the witnesses who are his sister and stepmother.

The two have been lined up to testify against the accused over the brutal killing of Rodger Kibiwott Ngetich.

The accused, jointly with Hillary Koech, are charged with unlawfully killing the deceased on February 24, 2016, at Kebenopilat village in ElgeyoMarakwet.

State Counsel Emma Okok brought to the attention of the Judge that the first accused who is out on bond was interfering with and threatening the two witnesses.

 “Your lordship, we have just received information to the effect that the first accused person is threatening and interfering with the two witnesses in Rogers Kibiwott murder case,” she told the court.

Okok said that she was concerned over the safety of the prosecution witnesses in view of constant threats and intimidation meted against them by the accused person who is out on a Sh200,000 bond.

His co-accused is being held at Eldoret GK remand prison since they were arrested by officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in connection with the incident.

The judge told the accused person to keep off the prosecution witnesses forthwith or else he would cancel his bond leading to his detention at the Eldoret GK remand prison until his case is heard and determined.

“Why are you harassing and intimidating the State witnesses in the deceased’s murder case? If I hear the complaints against you, I will cancel your bond and order for your detention in remand,” warned Justice Wananda.

The hearing of the murder case was adjourned to April 26 after State Counsel informed the Judge that the lawyer representing the accused person had travelled.

Courtesy K.N.A