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Court declines to detain man who battered pregnant wife in Lang’ata


A magistrate has declined to detain a man accused of battering his six-months pregnant wife in Nairobi’s Lang’ata estate.

The woman was admitted at Lang’ata Hospital after being battered senseless by her husband at their home last week, sparking outrage on social mediae.

On Monday, resident magistrate Miriam Peter Mugure rejected a request to have Mr John Wambugu Wachira detained for three days, saying the application lacked “merit.”

PECULIAR

The magistrate said it was “peculiar prayer” that the police should seek a warrant for extended custodial orders yet its is a matter that can be handled at the police station level, a bond issued and the suspect released from custody pending an appearance in court.

Lang’ata OCPD, Elijah Maina had ealier said the man suspected to have committed the offence was arrested the same day but was released on a Sh 5,000 cash bail the following day.

On Monday, an affidavit sworn by the case investigating officer Susan Moracha stated that Mr Wambugu was arrested at Hunters area, Kasarani, on February 6 and that the complainant was yet to record a statement and to fill a P3 form.

The investigating officer however did not state reasons  on whether the suspect is a threat to security of the complainant or witnesses in the case to warrant his further detention in custody.

Consequently, Mr Wambugu will now have to be taken to court before Wednesday.

VIRAL VIDEO

A video and photos of the brutal act went viral sparking an online outrage with social media users calling for the assailants immediate prosecution.

In the highly graphic video, the man is seen assaulting the woman with slaps and punches outside their house as another man looks on without intervening.

At some point the aggressor knocks down the woman and pulls her by her legs inside their house. When the woman later emerges from the house her face is bloodied and the floor is blood soaked.