St Augustine principal, 4 others charged with murder of school pupil

From right: Kesi Sara, Venant Mwaliko, Vald Mbadi, Abednego Fundi and Charo Kazungu when they appeared before Mombasa High Court. (Photo: Kelvin Karani/Standard)

The Mombasa High Court has slapped murder charges against the principal of the St Augustine's preparatory school and four other employees after a six year old pupil slipped through a hole in the school's bus and was crushed to death last week.

Following a public outcry the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended murder charges against the suspects. The suspects however objected asking the High Court in Mombasa to order an inquest to establish the nature of and circumstances leading to the child's death.

But in her ruling, Justice Dorah Chepkwony said murder charges suggested by the DPP are in order and the defense should concentrate on challenging them. She ordered them to plead to murder on August 1 and freed them on bond.

The judge directed the accused persons to undergo a psychiatric examination at the Coast Provincial General Hospital to prove that they are fit to plead to the murder charges.

St. Augustine's Preparatory School bus

"I therefore find at this stage the defense should hold their horses and allow due process to go through [as recommended] by the DPP preferring murder charges against the accused persons and they can petition and challenge the evidence," she added.

She further stated that the decision to charge and prosecute the accused persons is purely the prerogative of the DPP.

The court released the accused persons on a Sh1 million personal bond and directed them to report to the Regional Commander every Monday until they plead to the charges.