A church elder has been charged with manslaughter after he allegedly beat his 23-year-old son to death on August 21.
Paul Rugut, who has been in police custody for 14 days pending investigations, denied the charges on Wednesday.
He was arraigned before Eldoret Principal Magistrate Caroline Wattimah who directed that he be released on a Sh500,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount awaiting determination of the case.
The charge stated that at Kapyemit location in Turbo Sub County, he unlawfully killed his son Vincent Kimutai Bett. Following events leading to the incident, the prosecution charged him with the offence of manslaughter.
The suspect had earlier pleaded with the court to release him on lenient bond terms to take care of his children.
"The deceased is my son and as I speak now his siblings are at home waiting for me to fend for them. Some of my children are at home due to school fees, and I kindly plead with you to consider releasing me on lenient bond terms," pleaded Rugut.
On the material day, the deceased is said to have stormed into his parent's bedroom where he rudely shook his father to wake him up as he lifted and pulled the bed away.
A war of words ensued between the two and escalated into a physical confrontation and the church elder hit his son before escaping from the house with serious injuries.
However, his lifeless body was found near their home the following day in the morning.
The body was collected by police officers from Baharini police station and took it to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.
The court directed that the case will be mentioned on September 26 for further directions on pre-trial.
