A police officer accused of killing his colleague will be held at Ruaraka police station for seven days while investigations continue. A Nairobi court granted this order after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) requested to detain Police Constable Kipkoech Tarus for 14 days.
Tarus, who works in the VIP protection unit, is suspected of murdering Raphael Kimuli Wambua, an officer attached to the Central Bank of Kenya. The incident occurred on February 21 when Tarus allegedly confronted Wambua and his brother, Police Constable Erick Ngolania, as they were walking home. Tarus then shot Wambua with his pistol.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina agreed with the DCI's application, stating that it was justified. The police argued that they needed time to analyze the murder weapon forensically.
Police constable Suleiman Mwatajiri of Starehe DCI filed an affidavit explaining that the state required time to complete investigations. This includes interrogating the suspect, recording his statement, conducting an identification parade, and preventing Tarus from interfering with potential witnesses, given his position as a police officer.
Other aspects of the investigation involve sending the spent cartridges and firearm collected at the scene to DCI headquarters for examination by ballistic experts, recording statements from prosecution witnesses, and escorting the suspect for a mental assessment at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
Magistrate Onyina acknowledged that Tarus was under investigation for murder and had been assaulted by members of the public following the incident. He believed that a seven-day detention would be sufficient for the police to conclude their investigation.
The court also allowed the police to take the suspect to the hospital for psychiatric tests. The case is scheduled for mention on March 11.
Tarus, who works in the VIP protection unit, is suspected of murdering Raphael Kimuli Wambua, an officer attached to the Central Bank of Kenya. The incident occurred on February 21 when Tarus allegedly confronted Wambua and his brother, Police Constable Erick Ngolania, as they were walking home. Tarus then shot Wambua with his pistol.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina agreed with the DCI's application, stating that it was justified. The police argued that they needed time to analyze the murder weapon forensically.
Police constable Suleiman Mwatajiri of Starehe DCI filed an affidavit explaining that the state required time to complete investigations. This includes interrogating the suspect, recording his statement, conducting an identification parade, and preventing Tarus from interfering with potential witnesses, given his position as a police officer.
Other aspects of the investigation involve sending the spent cartridges and firearm collected at the scene to DCI headquarters for examination by ballistic experts, recording statements from prosecution witnesses, and escorting the suspect for a mental assessment at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
Magistrate Onyina acknowledged that Tarus was under investigation for murder and had been assaulted by members of the public following the incident. He believed that a seven-day detention would be sufficient for the police to conclude their investigation.
The court also allowed the police to take the suspect to the hospital for psychiatric tests. The case is scheduled for mention on March 11.
