One year behind bars for 80-year-old murder suspect

80-year-old Doris Mworia Ikiao was on Wednesday jailed for one year after pleading not guilty in a case where she was accused of murdering her neighbor.

Ikiao was charged at a Meru Court, alongside her daughter Janet Kanyua Ikiao, for murdering Mr Solomon Liria.

Mungai told the court that the two committed murder on November 24, 2015 at Nthunguri Village in Tigania West Sub County.

Speaking before resident judge Roseline Wendoh, the prosecutor said the two suspects were involved in a fight with the deceased and they also sustained injuries.

The two appeared in court with bandages in their arms, and Senior Prosecutor Kahiga Mungai said this pointed to the fact that the two had committed the heinous the act.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Judge Wendoh ruled that many murder cases are pending before the court, adding that older matters needed urgent attention.

“The case will be mentioned on December 16, 2016 to fix the hearing date”. The judge ruled, leaving the accused with one year behind bars before being heard for determination.

Seven other murder suspects are to the take their pleas next month after the court remanded them, awaiting a medical report from Meru teaching and referral hospital.

The court remanded Abbas Ali Ismail, Jama Duba, Yusuf Mohammed and Abdinazir Garet Hassan at Meru prison. Other suspects are Hirow Hamed, Mohamed Aden Abdile and Ahmed Duba Abdile.

The court also ruled that two of the suspects, who looked like they might be underage, should be taken for age assessment before they stand trial.

They are charged with murdering Mr Abdi Shabin Hadow at Kone Village in Garbatulla Sub County, Isiolo County.

They will appear in court on January 16 to plead to the charges.