Prime suspect in the murder of Chiloba,spent Chiloba’s money partying;Court told
Edwin Kiptoo Alias Chiloba whose lifeless body was found stashed in a metal Box in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County ,Chiloba was an LGBTQ activist and a fashion designer/File Photo
The murder trial of fashion model and LGBTQ rights activist Edwin
Kiprotich alias Chiloba was told today how the key suspect in his
brutal killing went partying in various night clubs in Eldoret town
using money from the deceased’s mobile phone.
State Counsel Mark Mogun narrated to Eldoret High Court Judge Reuben
Nyakundi during pre-trial hearing how the key suspect, Jacktone
Odhiambo whom he said was lover to the slain gay activist killed him
in his Noble Breeze Apartment in the outskirt of the town.
“Your honour, all circumstances points to the suspect as the main
person who killed Edwin Kiprotich who was popularly known as Chiloba
in his house where they were living together on the fateful night,”
said Mogun.
Mogun told the Judge that by the time Odhiambo was being arrested
after being linked to the heinous killing of the deceased who was also
a former University of Eldoret student by sleuth attached to the
directorate of criminal investigations department, he was very drunk
after having fun the whole night courtesy of money from the deceased’s
mobile phone.
His arrest, Mogun informed the court, followed the January 3, 2022
discovery of the decomposed body of Chiloba that was stashed in a
metallic box and dumped in the Kapsaret area, some 20 kilometres away
from Eldoret town.
He implored upon the Judge to give the verdict of death sentence
against the prime suspect owing to the overwhelming crucial evidence
they have against him over his indolent in the murder of Chiloba..
“This is a case of circumstantial evidence and we intend to bring 26
witnesses in the trial case since all evidence links the suspect to
the brutal killing of the slain university student and fashion model,”
Mogun told the court.
The two, according to Mogun, had been living together as wife and
husband for a year and that Chiloba had stayed at his house for three
years alone before Odhiambo joined him in 2022.
Odhiambo who looked composed in the dock is accused of killing Chiloba
between December 31, 2022 and January 3, 2023 at Noble Breeze
Apartment in Chebisas in the outskirts of Eldoret town.
The state Counsel said that they have lined up 26 key witnesses among
them primary and secondary school learners, and homicide experts to
give their evidence in chief against the suspect.
Odhiambo is represented by Mathai Maina while the victim’s family is
represented by lawyer Gilbert Mitullah.
While giving his statement in the packed court, Mathai defended
Odhiambo saying that he had nothing to do with his murder as being
alleged by the prosecution.
“Your honor, my client has a lot of friends who had grudges against
and used the sad incident to link him to the heinous killing of
Chiloba who was his close friend,” argued Mathai.
On his part, the lawyer Mitullah told the court that he had no doubts
that Odhiambo was the prime suspect in his client’s murder and asked
the Judge to give him a death sentence due to evidence and accounts
from various witnesses adduced by people who saw him and the deceased
prior to the discovery of his decomposed body.
The judge scheduled hearing of the trial case on 19th, 20th and 21st
of June when the learners will be given first priority to testify
against the suspect in connection with the murder of Chiloba.
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