Emotions ran high at Embu High court Tuesday when an elderly man narrated how his younger brother was stoned and set ablaze by neighbours over a land dispute seven years ago within Kathitu village in Mbeere North Constituency.
Sospeter Nthiga was testifying in a case where nine people; seven men and two women are charged with the murder of his elder brother Fredrick Njue on December 15, 2014, near Rweria River.
Nthiga told Lady Justice Lucy Njuguna that trouble started when the deceased bought a piece of land in the area dominated by two clans; Ndamata and Mururi.
This, Nthiga said, irked some members of one of the clans who in disapproval torched his house forcing him to vacate and rent a house at the neighbouring Kairo Trading centre.
Months later, Nthiga added, Njue went to check on his Miraa plants with a view of harvesting the crop but that was his last day on earth.
“When they saw him, some residents shouted that ‘he was the next goat to be slaughtered,” Nthiga narrated, adding that he just watched helplessly afar off as his brother was stoned and later set ablaze.
He said, “There was nothing much I could do, I called the police but by the time they arrived, my brother was already dead.”
The hearing was adjourned till December 9 when more witnesses are expected to testify.
The suspects are out on a cash bail of Sh. 100, 000 each.
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