In a significant development in the case of the murder of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani, popularly known as ‘Sniper,’ two suspects were formally charged in the Kiambu law courts on Monday.
Vincent Murithi Kirimi, also known as Supuu O Mioro, and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai, alias Tali, are facing murder charges, according to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Guantai, the brother of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, who was formerly on her security detail, was arrested in connection with the murder.
The DPP clarified that the decision to charge the individuals came after a psychiatric evaluation determined their fitness to stand trial.
Legal Proceedings and Remand
The accused, having pleaded not guilty before Lady Justice Dorah Chepkwony, are to be remanded at the Industrial Area remand prison while awaiting the filing of a bail application by the defense and the prosecution’s response, as announced on the official Facebook page of the ODPP.
The charges specify that the accused, along with others not before the court, allegedly committed the murder between December 2, 2023, and December 6, 2023, at River Mutonga in Ciakariga Sub-County within Tharaka Nithi County.
The court has also ordered the Probation and Aftercare Service to conduct a social inquiry, submitting a pre-bail report within 14 days. The case is scheduled for mention on February 29, 2024.
The tragic incident unfolded when Muthiani went missing on December 2, 2023, only for his lifeless body to be discovered in a thicket on the banks of the Mutonga River on December 16.
An autopsy conducted later revealed that Muthiani had endured torture before being strangled to death, adding a layer of brutality to an already distressing case.
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