Willie Kimani murder: Ex-police officer Leliman sentenced to death

Stephen Cheburet has been sentenced to 30 years, Sylvia Wanjiku 24 years, police informer Peter Ngugi 20 years

Piece by: ANNETTE WAMBULWA
News

• Lessit said he was also the one who crafted a sophisticated plan to kill  Josephat Mwenda, saying Willie and driver Joseph Muiruri were not his targets but he killed them too not caring about their life.

• Judge Jessie Lessit said being a police officer paid to safeguard life, he acted contrary to the law

Peter Ngugi Kamau, Sylvia Wanjiku Wanjohi, Stephen Cheburet Morogo, and Fredrick Ole Leliman before High Court Judge Jessie Lessit during the sentencing of a case where they were found guilty with the murder of lawyer Willy Kimani, his client Josephat Mwendwa and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri at Milimani law courts on February 3, 2023.
Image: DOUGLAS OKIDDY

Fredrick Leliman the key mastermind in the Willie Kimani murder case has been sentenced to death in each count.

Judge Jessie Lessit said being a police officer paid to safeguard life, he acted contrary to the law

"The murder was meant to interfere with the course of justice.  They went through fear torture and excruciating pain as they waited for their turn to be killed," Lessit said.

"They could hear the screams of their colleague knowing that they were next, this must have caused them fear."

Lessit said he was also the one who crafted a sophisticated plan to kill  Josephat Mwenda, saying Willie and driver Joseph Muiruri were not his targets but he killed them too not caring about their life.

Stephen Cheburet has been sentenced to 30 years,  Sylvia Wanjiku 24 years, police informer Peter Ngugi 20 years

The court considered the fact Ngugi's confession helped the police case.

Ngugi has asked the court to order the prison not to move him from Naivasha prison where he was being held as the trial was going on.

His lawyer has told judge Lessit that he is afraid for his security if he is moved.

However, the judge has declined to rule on the issue.

Ngugi was the only accused in the case who was held separately from his colleagues for his safety.

Ngugi ‘fixed’ Leliman by confessing and telling police how Willie, Mwenda and Muiruri were brutally killed.

Leliman had told the court that he regretted the brutal killing of the three.

In mitigation through his lawyer Cliff Ombeta, Leliman had said he was a religious man and has spent the last six years reflecting on those events

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