PH
Nairobi – The suspect in the murder of songstress Diana Chemutai Musila, who popularly known as ‘Chelele’, will now take a plea in the High Court in Naivasha after a judge in Kericho cited crowd trouble.
The Star reports that Justice Hedwig Ong’udi said crowds threatened the security of the late musician’s husband, Mr Erick Musila, and his lawyers whenever they appeared in court for hearing of the case.
The judge Monday cautioned ‘Chelele’s’ supporters against turning up in court in large numbers.
For the second time since the case started, Mr Musila was unable to take a plea after his lawyer, Aggrey Simiyu, said he was not ready to do so.
Lady Justice Ong’udi directed that the case be transferred to Naivasha following an application by Simiyu.
“Residents had bayed for his blood and they are also asking for the identities of his lawyers. They have been outside the court, waiting to see him and to know him,” Simiyu said.
The Daily Nation said Musila has another murder charge at the Kericho court and it would be “imprudent” for it to take on a second murder case involving Musila.
” In the circumstances, I find it prudent to have this matter transferred to another jurisdiction. The case is hereby transferred to Naivasha High Court. The case will be mentioned on the 10th of this month,” Ong’udi said.
He refused to transfer the case to Nairobi as requested, saying the norm is to transfer cases to the nearest court to avoid unnecessary expenses.
