MY WINSTONE MUSISI
A 30-year old casual labourer accused of killing his wife is fit to stand trial for murder case facing him, Eldoret court ruled today Tuesday 31.
Deputy High Court registrar Rosemary Ongoba directed that the accused, Mr. Khadir Manda be arraigned before Justice Eric Ogola of the High Court, Eldoret on 2 June for plea taking.
This was after a report of mental assessment that was conducted at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital indicated that the suspect was mentally fit to stand murder charge.
“I direct that the suspect be detained at Eldoret Remand GK prison pending his arraignment for plea taking before Judge Eric Ogola of the Eldoret High court,” ruled Ongoba.
None of the suspect’s parents, sisters, brothers and relatives alike, turned up in court for the hearing of the matter.
Manda was arrested on May 6, 2022 after he was linked to the brutal killing of his wife in Iten town, Elgeyo Marakwet County in an incident that was described as bizarre.
Monica Jeptoo Komen’s body was found in a pool of blood in her rented house on the outskirts of the town prompting the police to arrest Manda as prime suspect in the killing.
The police officers led by Keiyo North Sub County Police Commander Tom Makori who visited the scene found the body of the 38-year-old mother of three children in their rented house with a stab wound on the left side of the ribs.
Detectives recovered a kitchen knife suspected to have been used by the killer at the crime scene which they will use against the suspect as exhibit during trial of the murder case.
According to Makori, the murder might have occurred at around 9 pm following reports from the neighbours that the two had a quarrel.