Court orders psychiatric evaluation for suspected Kisumu serial killer

Harrison Okumu suspected to have killed five people in Kisumu [Photo:Kevin Odit/Standard]

By Maureen Odiwuor

The High Court in Kisumu has ordered a mental evaluation for a suspected serial killer.

The court also ordered the registrar to assign a lawyer to Harrison Okumu, 25.

Justice Hillary Chemitei issued the orders on Tuesday after the prosecution successfully applied for the suspect to undergo mental evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.

Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Mr Douglas Ogoti told the court that they had planned to have him taken to a psychiatrist before Monday but the doctor was out of town attending a conference.

He said the only available psychiatrist will be back from the conference on August 28.

Okumu did not take plea on Tuesday. The report on his mental status would be ready on September 24.

The charge sheet stated that Okumu allegedly killed Shem Onyango, along with others, between July 25 and August 2 in Miguye village within Kisumu County.

The suspect told the court that he had been assaulted by police.

“I was assaulted by the police and my house burnt down. My family has also not come to see me,” he told the judge.

Hundreds of members of the public thronged the law courts to have a glimpse of the suspect.

The suspect was arrested by detectives from the Crime Intelligence Unit at a bus terminus in Bondeni area, Mombasa County.

He appeared in court for the first time in Mombasa on August 7 where Resident Magistrate Victoria  Achodho ordered that he be transferred to Kisumu, the jurisdiction he is alleged to have committed the crime.