Lawyer pleads not guilty in Belgian’s murder case
By Nancy Gitonga, March 12, 2020
A Nakuru lawyer was yesterday charged with killing a Belgian woman as his co-accused failed to plead to the charge for the third time.
Lawyer John Hari Gakinya appeared before High Court judge Daniel Ogembo and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge levelled against him by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji.
Haji, through Wangui Gichuhi, told the trial judge that Hari’s co-accused Lucy Waithera Njuguna has not been taken to hospital to be examined by a psychiatrist as ordered by the court.
The judge deferred her plea taking to this morning.
Gakinya is accused of killing Dysseleer Mireille Lesoipa Leila between December 11, 2018 and July 15, 2019 jointly with others at an unknown place.
He took plea following mental assessment to determine whether he is fit to stand a murder trial.
Justice Ogembo ordered that the accused be remanded at Industrial Area Remand Prison until Monday, March 16, when his bail application will be heard.
The DPP indicated they intend to oppose the release of Gakinya on bail, pending the hearing.
The court fixed the hearing of the main case on October 5 and 6.