Police officer Ahmed Rashid seeks to block murder trial
A police officer accused of killing two youth has filed a case seeking to block his murder trial.
Sergeant Ahmed Rashid whom the High Court has directed to answer to charges of murdering Jamal Mohamed and Dahir Kheri on February 9, 2023, has been ordered to surrender to police for processing.
But he alleges non- governmental organizations are pressing for his prosecution so as to raise funds from donors.
Sgt Rashid is expected to answer charges of killing the two. The incident reportedly happened on March 31, 2017, within Eastleigh, a Nairobi suburb.
He will plead to the charges virtually from Capitol Hill Police Station, Nairobi.
In the application filed under a certificate of urgency by lawyer Danstan Omari, Sgt Rashid also questions the authenticity of a video clip where he is seen firing at the deceased.
The accused has also asked the high court to expunge all evidence compiled by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) in association with other civil rights groups, saying it does not meet the legal threshold and his prosecution is aimed at achieving other purposes not justice.
Justice Kanyi Kimondo, before whom Sgt Rashid was scheduled to appear on January 26, 2023 to answer the murder charges directed the case be mentioned on February 8, 2023 for further directions.
Sgt Rashid did not show up in court as required.
He was said to be attending to some urgent family matters in Garissa.
Following the revelation, the judge directed the suspect to immediately surrender himself to the Divisional Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) , Garissa Township, Mr Muli, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police.
The judge further directed Sgt Rashid to be escorted to under-go a psychiatric examination at Mathari Mental Hospital.
Justice Kimondo gave the suspect a window of freedom saying, “If he voluntarily surrenders then police are at liberty to release him on bond, terms of which will be determined by the officer commanding station (OCS).”
The court directed if the dreaded Pangani Police Station crime buster does not surrender then a warrant of his arrested shall be issued forthwith.
It is alleged Rashid killed the pair on March 31, 2017, at Amal Plaza within Eastleigh, Nairobi County.
The police sergeant was reportedly caught in an amateur video shooting dead Mr Jamal Mohamed and Mohamed Dahir in Eastleigh on March 31, 2017.
The two victims, who were unarmed, were reportedly killed over allegations that they were part of a criminal gang.
Mr Omari said Sgt Rashid is still a serving police officer and he will abide by the court directives.
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