Why Chris Obure must be charged with murder despite Bodo CCTV recording: DPP

By , K24 Digital
On Tue, 8 Sep, 2020 15:13 | 2 mins read
Chris Obure
Robert Ouko Bodo (left) and Chris Obure at a Kibra court on August 24, 2020. PHOTO | SHEILA MUTUA
Robert Ouko Bodo (left) and Chris Obure at a Kibra court on August 24, 2020. PHOTO | SHEILA MUTUA

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) says it has sufficient evidence to support a murder charge against businessman Chris Obure over the death of Kevin Omwenga.

In an affidavit filed at High Court in Nairobi on Tuesday, the investigating officer, Bashir Boya, who is attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), told the court that there was no burglary at Obure's office, contradicting the businessman's statement that his bodyguard stole his gun.

"That the investigations revealed that there being no breakage of the office or the safe suggested that the second suspect, Robert John Ouko, gained entry with ease like a person with access and familiar with the premises," read DPP's affidavit.

Further, Boya claimed that there is a witness who places the businessman within the vicinity of the scene of the incident on the night of August 21, 2020, when the fatal shooting occurred, contrary to what Obure told the police.

The ODPP, represented by Ms. Wangui Gichuhi and Mr. Alexander Muteti, asked the court to dismiss Obure's application to quash the murder charge against him.

The state also told the court that the safe in which the gun was stored in was safely secured in a place known to the businessman, again contrary to what he indicated in his application to quash the murder charge.

"THAT investigations and documentary evidence have shown that although the ex-parte applicant had denied having any business or strong social relationship with the deceased in his statement there is strong evidence that the apartment that the deceased resided in and the vehicles he claimed to own were fully paid for by Global Jet International, a company that the ex-parte applicant has leadership authority at," said Muteti.

The DCI detective also revealed that their analysis of the CCTV footage from Obure's office that was given to their team showed that it had been tampered with.

Boya said the footage is being forensically analysed to establish its authenticity.

On Monday, the court allowed Obure to challenge the murder charge levelled against before he takes a plea.