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Fredrick Leliman, one of the police officers charged with the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani and two others, yesterday took to the stand to defend himself. 

Giving his evidence led by lawyer Cliff Ombeta, Leliman denied ever knowing Kimani and driver Joseph Muiruri but admitted to have shot boda boda operator Josephat Mwenda.

He told the court that on 10th, April 2015, the then OCS Mlolongo chief inspector Moses Wambugu, received a report that there was a place where criminals would meet to gamble and later steal from members of the public.  With the OCS and other officers, he said they carried out a patrol.

“When we got there, they started to run away.  PC Mutua arrested one suspect, the OCS arrested two…There was a motorbike and we saw someone coming for it,” he told the court.

“Corporal Jane Ngige went for the motorbike but the man drew a knife…When she saw the knife she screamed and that is when PC Juma and I went to rescue her. I told the man to put the knife down and surrender, but he refused,” he said.

Leliman told the court that he shot the man when he realised their lives were in danger.