High court to rule on slain lawyer case

High Court Judge Luka Kimaru will on August 10^th this year rule on whether or not to terminate the proceedings of a Law Society of Kenya case concerning slain lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and taxi driver.

This is after the state lawyer asked the court to terminate the case by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) so as to concentrate on the criminal matter where four police officers have pleaded not guilty to three murder charges.

A ruling on whether amendments of the petition will be done will be delivered on the same day.

The law society of Kenya, through lawyer John Khaminwa, wants to amend the pleadings before Justice Luka Kimaru to compel the state to compensate the families of the deceased.

On the other hand, director of public prosecution lawyer Nicholas Mutuku wants the case terminated arguing that they need to direct their energies to the criminal proceedings against the four police officers charged with the murder of the three people.

The lawyer’s body says that the report by DCI Ndegwa Muhuro is insufficient, claims that were objected by the state.

The prosecutor told the court that if they give more information then it would prejudice the criminal case pending before Judge Jessy Lessit.

Two days ago, four police officers accused of killing lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder.

The four; Senior Sergeant Fredrick Leliman, Sergeant Leonard Maina Mwangi, Corporal Stephen Chebulet and Constable Silvia Wanjiku Wanjohi, who appeared before High Court Judge Jessy Lesit at the Milimani Law Courts, were formally charged after the prosecution told the court that they are fit to stand trial.

The prosecution told the court that they have lined up at least 45 witnesses to testify against the four accused persons and asked for a period of one month to serve the defence with the witnesses’ statements.