There was drama outside the Mukurwe Ini Law Courts in Nyeri County on Monday after the court released a murder suspect for lack of evidence to prefer murder charges against him.The suspect, Samuel Thuo, had been accused of allegedly beheading Julia Muthoni in Mukurwe Ini in March and made away with her head which is yet to be recovered.
The court had to order the police to protect the suspect as the crowd outside the law courts had become hostile and baying for his blood.
“The respondent is released from police custody unless otherwise lawfully held he is also directed to visit Mukurwe Ini DCI offices once every 14 days on a day they will agree with the investigating officer,” said Senior Resident Magistrate DN Bosibori.
According to the victim’s family lawyer, the suspect was freed after it emerged that the witness statement that led to arrest of the suspect was found to be wanting.
“The main witness who led the police to this suspect is facing other murder charges at Nanyuki law courts and has been sent for mental assessment which declared him not fit to take a plea, which takes this case a step back because his statement could not be relied upon,” said the victim’s lawyer Alexander Muchangi.
