TWO Police Officers Sentenced To 40 Years In Prison Over Cell Murder
Two police officers charged with the murder of a suspect inside a police cell in Nyamatoki in Nyamira County in August 2019 have been jailed for a period of 40 years after they were found guilty of the charges.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the two officers were convicted over the killing of Amos Kemosi Kereri, who died on 19 August 2019 while in police custody following his arrest.
Police Corporal James Ogwagwa Nyakina was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment, while Police Constable Jackson Kirui Kipngeno received a 10-year sentence, bringing the total jail term to 40 years.
The court heard that the two officers, who were on duty at the Nyamatoki Police Post, had participated in the arrest of the deceased during a night patrol operation alongside other officers.
Prosecutors told the court that after the arrest, the suspect was taken to the police post, where the two officers assaulted him while he was in custody.
The ODPP further stated that the injuries inflicted during the assault proved fatal, and the suspect was later pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital the following morning.
In building its case, the prosecution relied on the testimony of 14 witnesses who detailed the events leading to the death of the suspect and the conduct of the officers on the night in question.
The court was persuaded that the two officers jointly participated in the unlawful killing while the victim was under their control and protection in custody.
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In a related but separate ruling earlier this year, the High Court also delivered a life sentence to a former senior police officer in another high-profile murder case involving a civilian.
The Mombasa High Court found former Likoni Officer Commanding Station Yunus Athman guilty of killing 20-year-old Mbaraka Maitha Omar in 2018, an incident that sparked public outrage over alleged police brutality.
Lady Justice Wendy Kagendo Micheni handed down the sentence, noting that as a police officer, Athman had a statutory duty to protect life but instead used unlawful force against an unarmed and defenseless civilian.
In that case, the court relied on testimony from more than 20 witnesses, who placed the officer at the scene and disputed claims that the victim posed any threat.
TWO Police Officers Sentenced To 40 Years In Prison Over Cell Murder
