Lawyer Willy Kimani murder suspects seek release on bail citing COVID-19 fears

Suspects charged with the killing of lawyer Willy Kimani, his client and taxi driver on Tuesday asked the court to grant them bail pending hearing of their trial.

The accused persons, who are Administration Police (AP) officers and a police informer, have been in custody since 2016.

This comes as their third attempt at applying for bail as the case comes to a close with only two witnesses remaining for the prosecution to finish their case.

The four APs – Fredrick Leliman, Sylvia Wanjiru, Leonard Mwangi and Stephen Cheburet – alongside police informer Ngugi were charged with the murder of Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and driver Joseph Muiruri.

The suspects, through their lawyers, told the court that if released on bail they will not interfere with the remaining witnesses.

They argued that they are likely to contract COVID-19 because of the movement in and out of the prisons.

However, the prosecution asked the court not to grant them bail because of their own safety due to the seriousness of the offence.

Assistant DPP Nicholas Mutuku said that the seriousness of the case has not changed adding that if released on bail they are likely to abscond trial.

The case resumes on Friday October 30, 2020.