Drama as suspect collapses and dies during trial in Bomet

Court sessions at the Bomet Law Courts were interrupted after a 60-year-old man collapsed and died during a cross-examination.

The man, Wilson Kipyegon Rotich, had appeared before Principal Magistrate Pamela Achieng to face charges of obtaining money by false pretense in 2013 in Bomet Town before he lost his breath and collapsed on the stand.

The magistrate immediately adjourned the hearing and ordered that he be rushed to the Bomet Health Centre.

According to Bomet County Commandant Leah Kithei, the accused was pronounced dead on arrival but the cause of death is not yet known.

The body has since been transferred to Longisa Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Meanwhile, the judiciary on Wednesday sought to clarify the charges faced by 87-year-old Risper Ngwena after Citizen Digital highlighted her arrest and remand at Migori Prisons.

In a statement to newsrooms, the judiciary stated that Ms Ngwena was accused of stealing a sufuria worth Sh450.

She is also accused of breaking into a house where she stole two plastic chairs, fire jackets, one Sonitec Radio and Sh6,000 in cash, all amounting to Sh11,350. Both counts had alternatives of handling stolen goods.

Ms Ngwena pleaded not guilty to all charges and hearing was set for February 24, 2016.

“She was granted a bond of Sh20,000 with one surety of the same amount. In the alternative, a cash bail of Sh5,000,” read the statement.

According to the statement, the court was informed, before granting the bond terms, that the community was hostile towards her.

A cash bail of Sh5,000 was paid on January 6, 2016 and another mention is set for January 19, 2016.

Ms Ngwena had ten children; all of who have died except two.

Margaret Onyango, her daughter, told Citizen Digital that the grandson left the stolen property behind his grandmother’s house and escaped to an unknown place, adding that they were unable to raise the money for bail or to hire a lawyer to represent Ms Ngwena.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has however moved to terminate the case.

 Additional reporting by Lisa kamau