Police officer in Muchagara murder case yet to take plea

A police officer was on Tuesday arraigned before a Kerugoya Court to answer to murder charges but did not take plea.

John Njagi Symon who was attached to Muchagara Police Post is accused of extra judicial killing in 2017.

The officer is alleged to have opened fire on an unarmed suspect killing him on the spot.

The government opened an inquest file and after two years of hearing, the magistrate sitting at the Kianyaga Court ordered that the officer face murder charges.

Appearing before Kerugoya Chief Magistrate John Wambu on Tuesday, the officer did not take plea as the Prosecution sought to have undergo mental assessment.

His lawyer Ndegwa Njiru however opposed the application terming it as premature.

He then urged the court to release his client on bond pending plea taking on Wednesday.

The lawyer also indicated that he made an application at the High Court on October 3 to challenge the inquest recommendations.

However, the magistrate declined to release the suspect on bond and ordered that he remain in custody at Kerugoya Police Station.

He is scheduled to take plea on Wednesday.