Former Teacher on Trial for Killing Four Relatives

Former primary school teacher Duncan Murithi stands accused of a chilling series of murders within his own family.

The allegations paint a disturbing picture of a man who is suspected of being a brutal serial killer, allegedly responsible for the deaths of his sister Naomi Karea and four other family members over the course of 15 years. The trial, currently unfolding in the Meru High Court, has been marked by harrowing testimony from Karea's husband, Luke Mwongera, their children, and other witnesses. Their accounts vividly depict the horrific events of December 30, 2022, when Karea was allegedly attacked and killed by Murithi and an accomplice in her own home in Kariene, Imenti Central.

According to the witnesses, an 11-year-old child was the first to raise the alarm having witnessed men assaulting Karea with a panga (machete) and poisoned arrows. The child's testimony and the accounts of Karea's daughter Mwende and her husband Mr Mwongera paint a chilling scene. Mwende recounts seeing her uncle, Murithi, holding a panga over her mother's head, while Mwongera describes finding one attacker holding his wife's throat as Murithi pierced her with arrows.

The brutality of the crime was further compounded by the testimony of neighbour Josphat Mwaki who witnessed Karea's final moments. He recounts her agonizing pain and her desperate plea for help, accusing her brother, Murithi, of the attack. Despite efforts to save her life, Karea tragically succumbed to her injuries upon reaching the hospital. The prosecution's case against Murithi is bolstered by the findings of the postmortem examination, which revealed that Karea had been stabbed multiple times, ultimately leading to her death from oxygen deprivation and excessive blood loss. Furthermore, an identification parade was conducted, with Mwongera, Mwaki, and a minor all positively identifying Murithi as the perpetrator.

However, Murithi's defence attorney has raised questions about the validity of the witnesses' claims, specifically challenging the inclusion of the phrase "Murithi has killed me" in the police statements, suggesting that it may have been added later by the authorities. The trial has also shed light on the long-standing tensions between Murithi and his sister, rooted in a land dispute. Mwongera testifies that the animosity began when Karea stood as Murithi's bond for a previous murder charge, with the agreement that she would receive a portion of his land upon his release. However, Murithi allegedly reneged on the deal and began plotting against her.

Murithi's brother, Samuel Muthengi, has also submitted an affidavit detailing a series of murders within the family over the past 15 years, which they believe were carried out by Murithi. The prosecution has argued that Murithi poses a significant risk of interfering with witnesses and committing further offences, citing his alleged involvement in the murders of his brother Mugao, and Mugao's wife, Mary Kabura, as well as the disappearance of Elizabeth Nkimu whose son was also shot dead under mysterious circumstances.

Given the gravity of the allegations and the potential risk to public safety, the court has denied Murithi's application for bond, and he will remain in custody during the trial. The hearing is set to resume on September 18, with the pathologist who conducted the postmortem expected to testify.