Musician Chelele's husband denies murder charges

Murder suspect Erick Makau Musila speaks to his advocate at the Naivasha high court where his case was transferred from Kericho.(ANTONY GITONGA)

The estranged husband to the late musician, Diana Chemutai Musila alias Chelele, has denied murdering her.

Amid tight security, 29-year-old Erick Makau Musila appeared before High Court Judge Christine Meoli where he was charged with murdering the Kalenjin musician yesterday.

Mr Musila, whose case was transferred from the High Court in Kericho, denied killing Chelele on the January 7 in Kapkwen, Bomet County.

The prosecution told the court that a medical report conducted at Kericho Sub-County Hospital had cleared Musila to stand trial.

"Not guilty," thundered Musila inside the chamber, which had a high presence of police officers following an alleged threat on his life.

His lawyer, Jimmy Simiyu, applied to the court for the investigating officers to release some personal documents they had taken from Musila. The lawyer said three ATM cards, his national ID and Sh6,200 in cash was confiscated.

In her ruling, the judge directed the prosecution to investigate if the documents were part of the exhibits and report to the court on February 24 when the case will come up for mention.

Musila was later whisked to Naivasha G K Prison with the case set to be heard on May 9 and 10.

Outside the court, Chelele's relatives were in tears and termed the transfer of the case from Kericho to Naivasha an injustice.

Addressing the Press outside the court, Chelele's younger sister Susan Chepkemoi said the family could not afford to travel from Kericho to Naivasha  for the ongoing case.

In tears, she said since her sister's death their mother had developed health complications and could no longer walk.