Lawyer Willie Kimani murder: Four police officers, a civilian have case to answer

A civilian informer Peter Ngugi (left) with police officers from second left to right Leonard Mwangi, Sylvia Wanjiku, and Fredrick Leliman in the dock at a Milimani court on Monday, October 19, 2020, when they appeared for a hearing in a case they are faced with the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and their driver Joseph Muiruri.They are charged alongside another police officer Stephen Cheburet Morogo. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Four police officers and a civilian charged with the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani have been put on their defense after High Court Judge Jessie Lessit today ruled they have a case to answer.

Willie Kimani, his client Josphat Mwenda and their driver Joseph Muiruri were abducted on June 23, 2016 shortly after leaving Mavoko Law Courts, Athi River, where they were pursuing a case against the police. 

The three victims were reportedly driven to their deaths at 7pm in a thicket in Mlolongo, in a Nissan Wingroad belonging to a police officer.

A team of investigators including those from USA’s Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) said the three were bludgeoned at an open field a few meters away from an AP camp where they had been held for hours.

The three bodies were then stuffed into gunny bags and dumped at to Ol-Donyo Sabuk River, almost 70 kilometres away from the crime scene.

Lawyer Willie Kimani was abducted and murdered on June 23, 2016. [File, Standard]

A diver, John Mwaniki, who found the bodies said they were tied at their waists, and heads were wrapped with plastic bags.

“The bodies had started decomposing and blood oozed from their mouths and nostrils,” Mr Mwaniki previously testified in court.

A Government pathologist said the three were tortured before being killed.