Former CMC director defends put on defense over guard’s murder

By Ben Chumba

A former CMC Group director was put on his defense over the alleged killing of a guard at a barrier in upmarket Runda estate in February last year.

Joel Kamau Kibe rammed his Range Rover into a security barrier on February 2, 2016 knocking down Charles Wachira Mwangi, who was pronounced dead on arrival at Kiambu district hospital.

The accused who appeared before principal magistrate Benson Nzakyo in his defence blamed the erection of the barrier for his woes saying if only the barrier had been removed as recommended by the County government the accident could not have occurred.

The accused pleaded with the court for leniency saying he regrets the accident.

“I blame the residents association for putting up substandard barriers and putting guards on the road in plastic sentry cans” he told the court.

The prosecution gave clear, consistent and corroborative evidence to prove that Kibe carelessly drove the car and rammed into a check barrier in Runda killing Mwangi and injuring a second guard Daniel Ochieng Omollo.

He faces three counts.

The first is of causing death by dangerous Driving, the second is careless driving and the third is of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

The magistrate directed the parties to file their formal closing submissions by case by April 5.