Police accuse murder suspect Kevin Kang’ethe of delaying extradition case
A man wanted in the US to face murder charges in relation to the death of his girlfriend will remain at a Kenyan prison for a longer period as he shops around for a lawyer to handle his extradition case.
Kevin Kang’ethe who reportedly fled from the US after allegedly murdering his girlfriend and left her remains in the car at the Boston airport, is further accused of escaping from lawful custody at the Muthaiga police station in Nairobi before he was re-arrested days later.
He is currently detained at the Industrial Area prison remand.
On March 1, 2024, Kang’ethe pleaded with Milimani chief magistrate Lucas Onyina to indulge him to secure ther services of a lawyer to defend him in the capital offence.
“I have not been able to secure the services of a lawyer to defend me in these extradition proceedings because police have not allowed me to access my phone so as to conduct a lawyer to act for me in this matter,” he told court.
He said he needs to be defended by a lawyer of his choice.
A state prosecutor told Onyina he had served Kang’ethe with all documents prepared to be tabled in court before he is extradited for the murder trial at a Boston court.
The US government presented to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Renson Ingonga evidence to be relied in the murder case against the aeronotic engineer at the Boston International Airport.
The DPP has asked the court to have the suspect detained at a high security remand home from where he will remain until the extradition proceedints are over.
In a brief ruling, Onyina gave the murder suspect upto March 13, 2024, to secure himself a lawyer.
Onyina said legal representation is a constitutional right of every suspect and the court cannot abrogate his rights.
“Your plea for more time to get yourself a lawyer be and is hereby allowed. This case will be mentioned on March 13, 2024 for further directions,” Onyina ruled.
The prosecution had earlier asked the court to take judicial notice that the extradition proceedings are ready but delayed by the fugitive who had fled lawful custody.
And now he is causing further delay by dropping his earlier lawyers Antony Kago and David Muthama.
In the ruling Mr Onyina stated: “The DPP application to remand Kang’ethe in prison has merit as the police who had been allowed to keep him are subject of investigations to establish how he escaped from Muthaiga Police Station.”
The magistrate said fears by the DPP the suspect will abscond if kept in police custody are real and well founded.
He dismissed objections by defence lawyers Antony Kago and David Muthama to detain him at Muthaiga Police Station instead of prison custody since no charges have been filed against their client yet.
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