DPP allowed time to prepare for Willie Kimani murder trial

The high court has given the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) 14 more days to complete investigations and supply the defence with copies of witness statements and evidence they intend to rely on in prosecuting the case of the brutal murder of Advocate Willie Kimani, his client and a taxi driver.

This was after the prosecution requested to be granted more time to put the witnesses and the evidence in order, a request that was not opposed by the defence.

Prosecution based the request on the fact that they are dealing with a big number of up to 47 witnesses who have to be handled carefully.

Out of the 47 witness statements, they have only dealt with 22 statements fully in terms of analysing and typing.

They added that several witnesses need to be under witness protection and they only got an order yesterday (Monday) from the deputy registrar of the High Court granting them permission to place the said witnesses under protection and are yet to implement the order.

The matter had today (Tuesday) come up for bail/bond application but did not proceed as prosecution indicated that they needed to argue the application independently.

Justice Jessie Lesiit has directed that the matter be mentioned in two weeks to assess progress made by the prosecution in putting everything in order in readiness for trial and bail/bond application hearing.