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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 28546, member: 2262"] A judge handed a 30-year prison term to a 53-year-old cop who killed his wife with 11 bullets during an argument about a wallet and ATM card. The Eldoret High Court made this ruling for the crime committed on March 9, 2019, at the Soy police housing area in Uasin Gishu. Judge Reuben Nyakundi stated the government proved its case completely against Bernard Ndege, who broke public trust by misusing his service weapon for a home dispute instead of its intended purpose. The couple's young nine-year-old boy stayed in the house when this happened and later testified against his father. Five police officers living nearby also gave evidence about hearing or seeing the fight just before the shooting. One officer watched them argue about the wallet and ATM card outside their home and heard Ndege threaten to kill her if she refused to give him these items. They ran back inside their house before gunshots rang out. Ndege claimed someone else shot his wife - an unknown attacker. He insisted he kept his gun under their mattress and always maintained a good relationship with his wife. Judge Nyakundi dismissed these claims as a made-up story that contradicted the strong physical and scientific evidence linking him to the murder. The judge pointed to witness testimony about the death threats plus forensic evidence from recovered bullet casings and ballistic analysis. The court decided all evidence showed Ndege planned this action deliberately. As a trained police officer, he fully understood the deadly results of his choices but still used his work gun against his spouse. The judge stated the evidence allowed only one reasonable conclusion - that Bernard Arabu Ndege acted with clear planning and evil intent when committing murder. The killing showed extreme brutality since autopsy results proved the victim suffered more than nine gunshot wounds to her head and chest. The murder happened in front of their young son, who saw the aftermath and told authorities his father killed his mother. This tragedy caused severe mental trauma to the child who lost his mom and watched his dad participate in her death. Judge Nyakundi noted Kenya faces an epidemic of homicides - within three months of 2024; people killed over 97 women under unclear circumstances. He emphasized everyone must protect the right to life and courts must punish murderers according to law. The judge also mentioned that Ndege previously ran away after receiving bail and never expressed any guilt for his actions. Instead, he tried to distance himself from the crime. The judge ended by telling Ndege he must serve 30 years in prison but has the right to appeal if he wants. [/QUOTE]

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