Two suspected MRC members sentenced to hang for murder
Suspected Mombasa Republican Council members Jabir Ali Dzuya (left) and Bwanamkuu Alwan at the High Court in Mombasa on July 29, 2016 after being sentenced to death. They were found guilty of murdering Changamwe OCPD and three police officers on the eve of the 2013 General Election. PHOTO | PHILIP MUYANGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Judge noted the attacks were meant to stop residents of Coast from voting.
- He said he was satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case against the two suspects.
- In their mitigation, the accused urged the court to be lenient to them saying their families depend on them.
Two suspected Mombasa Republican Council members were on Friday sentenced to death after they were found guilty of murdering Changamwe OCPD and three police officers on the eve of the 2013 General Election.
Justice Martin Muya said he was satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case against Jabir Ali Dzuya and Bwanamkuu Alwan.
The two murdered Senior Superintendent Otieno Owouri (OCPD), Corporal Salim Chebii and Police Constables Stephen Maithya and Andrew Songwa, who were preparing for the elections.
“The evidence placed before the court in respect of the first and second accused (Mr Dzuya and Mr Alwan) irresistibly point to their guilt,” said the judge.
Justice Muya said the defence offered by the accused did not weaken the circumstantial evidence.
The judge noted that the attacks against the police who were overseeing the election were meant to stop Coast residents from voting.
“The attack on officers was brutal and senseless; the offence of murder carries a mandatory death sentence which I found the accused deserve,” said Justice Muya, sitting in Mombasa.
Before the sentencing, Principal Prosecuting Counsel Jami Yamina told the court to treat the accused as first-time offenders since they had no previous criminal records.
However, Mr Yamina urged the court to sentence the accused to death, saying that was the only punishment available under the law.
In their mitigation, the accused urged the court to be lenient on them, saying their families depend on them.
The offence was committed on March 3, 2013 in Jomvu. Miritini, Mombasa County.
The judge acquitted Badi Said Kasim and Omar Salim Juma, who had been charged alongside the other two, saying the prosecution had not proved its case against them with respect to all the four counts of murder they were facing.
