Lawyer detained in probe

A court has allowed police to detain a lawyer accused of stabbing his colleague to death for 14 days to complete investigations.

Abel Mogaka,32, appeared before Eldoret Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa yesterday but did not take a plea after the prosecution requested for more time to conclude their investigations.

The prosecution said they needed more days after the charge Mogaka was facing was changed from grievous bodily harm to murder.

Mogaka is said to have committed the offence during a party with other lawyers and students from Moi University on Thursday last week.

An argument is said to have erupted between him and the victim, Calvin Ngaira, before he stabbed him on the neck with a broken bottle.

The prosecution informed the court that it intended to amend the charge. Mogaka was charged with causing grievous bodily harm when he appeared in court on Monday.

Prosecutor Juliet Busienei said Ngaira succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday at the Intensive Care Unit of Mediheal Hospital.

Investigating officer Richard Birech made the application to detain the lawyer. He said they also needed to record statements from more witnesses.

They also want to conduct a postmortem on the body. The case resumes on June 7.