Court directs prosecution to reduce murder charges in Paul Mackenzie case from 191 to 12
By Farhiya Hussein |
The court is set to hear an application from the prosecution to prevent Mackenzie and his co-accused from being granted bond.
The High Court has directed the prosecution to reduce the number of murder charges against controversial preacher Paul Nthege Mackenzie and 29 others from the current 191 to only 12.
Judge Mugure Thande stated that reducing the number of charges will facilitate quick delivery of justice to all parties besides saving precious judicial time.
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“The DPP to amend the information containing the murder counts within 21 days and file fresh charges against them,” she directed.
The court is set to hear an application from the prosecution to prevent Mackenzie and his co-accused from being granted bond.
Thande instructed the parties to present their arguments regarding the prosecution's request to deny bond on July 18, 2024.
The court also declared controversial preacher Paul Nthege Mackenzie and 29 others were properly charged with murdering 191 people in the Shakahola massacre in Kilifi county.
The ruling followed a preliminary objection filed by the defence counsel on the number of counts in the charge.
Judge Mugure Thande ruled that the charge facing Mackenzie and his co-accused was properly drafted and the suspects were charged per the law.
Thande stated the charge as drawn will not cause any prejudice to Mackenzie and his co-accused.
All the 30 accused persons jointly pleaded not guilty to 191 counts of murder contrary to section 203 as read with 204 of the penal code.
They allegedly committed the offences on an unknown date between January 2021 and September 2023 in the Shakahola area in Malindi Sub County within Kilifi County.
The judge heard that some of the murdered children were identified with their names while others with initials since they were unidentified by investigators.
The court also heard the genders of some of the murdered children were unknown.
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