Image: Courtesy
The police have successfully recovered the vehicle believed to have been used in the abduction and subsequent disposal of the body of Daniel Muthiani Benard, also known as Sniper, at Mutonga River in the Chiakariga area of Tharaka Nithi.
The murder occurred on December 2, 2023. Following an extensive forensic analysis of crucial leads, which pointed to a residential location in Kithoka, Meru County, investigators identified and located the silver Toyota Premio used in the crime.
Vincent Mureithi Kirimi, alias Supuu, has been identified as the driver who hired the vehicle on the date of the abduction, transporting three other occupants.
The Homicide team is actively conducting further investigations to unravel the details of the case.
The plea-taking for two suspects in Sniper's murder, Supuu, and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai alias Tali, has been deferred for a week to allow the prosecution to conduct various tests on the suspects.
The suspects were presented before the High Court in Kiambu, where the prosecution sought a mental assessment of the accused individuals.
The Deputy Registrar, Jackline Karani, approved the prosecution's application, directing each suspect to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The assessment reports are to be presented in court before a plea is taken.
The two suspects are currently detained at Muthaiga Police Station, with their plea expected on January 29, 2024.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, has ordered the charges against them to include murder.
Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, who conducted the postmortem on December 22, revealed that the deceased had been tortured before being strangled, and he had fractured ribs.
According to investigators, the suspects lured the deceased with a phone call, claiming that a senior leader wanted to meet him.
However, the alleged leader was not in the office, and reports suggest no meeting took place. The case will be mentioned on January 29, 2024.
