Nairobi, September 20

Four police officers and their informant will now undergo trial in the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani and two others after the High Court sitting in Nairobi ruled that the prosecution had enough evidence to put them on the defence.

In the Monday, September 20 ruling delivered by Justice Jessie Lessit, the four cops, will now answer to charges of killing lawyer Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver, Joseph Muiruri.

In a brief ruling, Justice Lessit found Clement King'ori Mwangi, Fredrick Leliman, Leonard Mwangi, Silvia Wanjiku and Stephen Chebulet with a case to answer an put them on their defence.

"I have evaluated the evidence adduced by the state. I find that Prosecution has establish a prima facie case against all the accused persons. I according place them on their defence," Lessit ruled.

The accused person will now face three charges of murder individually and collectively.

Willie Kimani was murdered in 2016 together with his client and their taxi driver.

Prior to his murder, Mr Kimani had filed a complaint against a senior policeman accused of shooting his client, a boda boda rider.

He (Kimani) was last seen at Syokimau Police Station.

The Prosecution closed its case on Friday, September 17 after lining up 46 witnesses in the case to prove the case. The five have been on placed on their defence in the trial that began five years ago.

The court heard that all the accused persons will be giving sworn defence evidence in the matter and each will be calling defence witnesses.

One of the cops, Leliman, has sought the court to issue summons to the six witnesses including the Mlolongo and Makindu Officers Commanding Stations, Corporals Philomena Muthama and Esther Muthama, retired Chief Inspector, Jared Kimani.

The prosecution, however, has sought to be supplied with all the accused persons' and defence witnesses statements and any other evidence material they will rely on.

The Judge says that the defence hearing will start on Monday, September 27.