Fate of cop who shot civilian over beer revealed
A police officer who allegedly shot and killed a bricklayer in Kiriti village, Mukurweini sub-county, Nyeri County seven years ago after they argued over a bottle of beer will know his fate in September 2023.
Police Constable Chibungu Sanga, who is attached to Mukurweini Police Station, allegedly shot and killed Mr Gregory King’ori Kanyi after they had a disagreement while drinking alcohol at a local bar. The incident occurred on 25 February 2015.
The suspect appeared before the Nyeri High Court, where he was charged with murder and the magistrate said the suspect would know his fate in September 2023.
The police officer was arrested and charged following investigations and recommendations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
“It all started when the deceased was involved in a physical altercation with a police officer identified as Constable Ireri at a bar in Mukurweini town,” the IPOA said in a statement issued at the time.
The IPOA further said that on 7 March 2023 at 3 am, police officers stormed and broke into Mr Kanyi’s house, which was a stone’s throw away from the police station, with the intention of arresting him.
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Instead of arresting him, the officer shot him, killing him on the spot.
The following day, his body was found on their coffee plantation with a bullet wound in his chest.
In an attempt to prove the case against the policeman, the prosecution presented evidence from 14 witnesses.
In his defence, the officer said he shot Mr Kanyi in self-defence because the deceased had approached him with a machete and was about to attack him.
The victim’s lawyer argues that the officer was extremely violent and that action should be taken against him.
“Although he stated that his intention was self-defence, which is disputed, we submit that the force used was excessive. He was required to use force that was proportionate to the objective of making an arrest,” said the victim’s lawyer, Edward Mbanya.
In addition, the conduct of the officers in going to the house without a warrant and at midnight on a Sunday night for an offence allegedly committed two weeks earlier indicates bad faith.
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