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Kenya

Case against athlete Wanjiru aborts

NYAHURURU, Kenya, Feb 9 – A criminal case involving Olympic marathon champion Samwel Kamau Wanjiru in which he’s accused of attempting to kill his wife and illegal possession of a firearm failed to kick-off on Wednesday after it was reported that he was unwell.

His lawyer Wahome Ndegwa told the court that the athlete was under instructions from his personal doctor to have a bed rest.

The lawyer told Nyahururu Senior Resident Magistrate Alice Mong\’are that his client sustained serious injuries in a road accident that occurred on January 21 on the Nyahururu-Nakuru road and was not in a position to appear in court.

The accident occurred a few kilometres from Bahati Township as the athlete was on his way to his Nyahururu home.

"Your honour, it is in the public domain that my client was recently involved in a road accident and he is still undergoing treatment at a Nairobi hospital under the supervision of his doctor who has advised him to have a rest," Mr Ndegwa told the court.

However, the prosecution led by Chief Inspector John Rutto objected to the application to adjourn the case noting that five prosecution witnesses among them a ballistic expert were already in court and ready to testify.

"These are very serious charges and we have all the five witness in court and so we cannot postpone the hearing," he said adding that; "it is our wish that this matter is concluded in the shortest time possible".

In her ruling, the magistrate ordered the advocate to produce medical documents as proof that his client was under medical supervision and cautioned him against derailing the proceedings.

He ordered that the matter be heard on February 23, saying the court will not give any other adjournment or else it could issue a warrant of arrest for the suspect.

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Kamau Wanjiru is facing four counts of assault, attempting to kill his wife and illegal passion of a firearm. He denied all charges when he appeared before the court and was released on a Sh300,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount.

He is charged that on December 29 last year at Nyahururu\’s Muthaiga Estate without lawful excuse uttered threats to his wife Terezah Njeri Muturi and night watchman William Masinde Muhunyi.

He was also charged that on that particular night he assaulted the watchman thereby causing him serious bodily harm.
The athlete also denied being in possession of an AK-47 rifle with serial number 02839 without a firearm certificate.

His wife has subsequently expressed her intention to file a divorce but is yet to do so.

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