Two police officers who were found guilty of torturing to death a 31-year-old man for failing to wear a face mask five years ago will serve 35 year in prison, an Eldoret High Court ruled on Monday. Citizen Digital reports.
Presiding Judge Reuben Nyakundi stated the duo, Emmanuel Wafula 38, and Godfrey Sirengo 35, had what it takes to secure the life of the deceased.
But instead, the duo handcuffed Dennis Lusava on the window the police cells before subjecting him to torture until he passed away in their custody.
The court heard that the former officers then put the body in a gunny bag and dumped it in River Nzoia along the border of Bungoma and Kakamega counties.
The Judge said that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubts that the two former police officers murdered the Lusava.
The prosecution led by Sidi Kirengo presented 21 key witnesses during the trial who testified against the accused persons among them the victim’s parents Safani Malongo and Agnes Ambale.
Also presented during the murder hearing that took five years were 27 exhibits which were used against the two former police officers.
Earlier on, the convicts were dealt a major blow after the Judge dismissed their plea to be given non-custodial sentence in a case where they are accused of killing the slain father of two children aged between 9 and 14 years respectively.
They are said to have arrested the deceased, handcuffed him in the police cell before torturing him to death on accusation of failing to wear a face mask.
The former police officers denied committing the said criminal offence on October 7, 2020 at Mbururu police post in Likuyani sub county, Kakamega county.
While dismissing their defence, the Judge observed that the officers who were tasked with the protecting civilians lives and property had absolutely no reason to torture the suspect and end his life.
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