A magistrate at Kisii Law Courts has appealed to Marani sub-county security officers to beef up security during a site visit at a scene where Baby Brighton Sagini’s eyes were allegedly gouged out last December.
Senior Resident Magistrate, Christine Ogweno, urged the sub-county Directorate of Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO) to ensure the safety of accused persons and judicial officers during the visit.
Sagini’s grandmother, Rael Nyakerario Mayieka, Pacificah Nyakerario (aunt) and Alex Maina Ochogo were charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Baby Sagini at Ikuruma village in Marani sub-county. They denied the charges.
“I urge the DCIO to provide security and avail the accused persons at Rioma police station on 24 this month at 10 am,” Ogweno said during the hearing of the case on Friday.
Chief Inspector Mburu Godhead said members of the public arrested Pacificah at her daughter’s place and took her to Kiwanja Police station, where he re-arrested her.
The Officer, who works at the Criminal Investigation Department (DCI) headquarters told the court, he was tasked to arrest her after they got a signal from Kegogi Police station that she was linked with the attack.
“She had gone to visit her daughter in Nairobi. Neighbours said there was a stranger who was required in Kisii over the offence which went viral in social media,” Mburu said.
Main suspect in Baby Sagini case
The officer noted that Pacificah was hiding at her daughter’s house, adding, the situation was hostile and the neighbours wanted to lynch her.
The Inspector calmed the situation, moved her from Kiwanja Police post and brought her to Kisii Central Police station and handed her one to Mr Njiru, a police officer.
Inspector John Ng’eno, who visited the scene and took photographs, said it had been tampered with since he went there a few days after the incident occurred.
The officer, who was cross-examined by the trio’s lawyers - Kerosi Ondieki and Violet Moguche - said he took photos at the scene, Mayieka’s house and a spring where Sagini, aged four years, and his sister, Shantel Kemunto,8, had gone to fetch water.
“I took 11 photos and was accompanied by Marani DCIO. I also took photos of the Napier grass, maize and bananas within the area,” Ng’eno told the court.
Counsels George Morara appears as an interested party for Kisii County Government, Anita Nduhukire for Sagini and his sister, Kemunto while Hilary Kaino heads the prosecution.
