Five charged with assault on brother in-law

Five people charged with assaulting and causing bodily harm to their brother-in-law told an Eldoret Court they were disciplining the complainant for mistreating their sister.

Davis Nandi, JA (a minor), Ezra Juma, Helmina Khavere and Lilian Ambati are accused of assaulting Harrison Mangote in Lugari, Kakamega County, on October 26, 2017.

They are said to have waylaid Mr Mangote and caused him bodily harm using crude weapons while also striking him with kicks and blows.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa, the five accused pleaded not guilty to the offence but told the court that the complainant was their brother-in-law and had been battering their sister.

DEVELOPED HABIT

“The (complainant) married our sister and had developed a habit of regularly beating her and we could not take much of that. We did not beat him just for the sake of it and we did not use any weapons,” said Mr Nandi after the charge was read.

The second accused admitted to beating the complainant, while Ms Khavere and Ms Ambati said they only screamed and yelled at the complainant to express their anger against his habit.

Charge sheet details indicated that the Mangote sustained multiple injuries including a cut on the head and bruises on his stomach, and that he was saved by the residents who were attracted to the scene by the commotion.

The second accused further told the court that he was 17 years old, and therefore a minor.

“Plea of not guilty is entered for all the accused and they may be released on a Sh10,000 cash bail each. In the occasion that the second accused fails to attain the bailout terms, he will be remanded in juvenile custody,” ruled the magistrate.

He further directed that the second accused should be taken for an age assessment test ahead of the hearing date set for November 20.