Obado back in court to defend himself against Sharon Otieno murder charges
Last month, trial judge Cecilia Githua ruled that Obado, his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero had a case to answer.
Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado is back in court Tuesday, starting his defense in the ongoing trial over the murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.
Obado, alongside his personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero, will defend themselves against the accusations brought by the prosecution.
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Last month, trial judge Cecilia Githua ruled that the trio has a case to answer, meaning they must now testify in their defense.
The judge determined that enough evidence had been presented by the prosecution to warrant placing the three men on trial.
However, the judge acquitted the accused on the charge of killing Sharon's unborn baby, stating that the evidence did not support the murder charge for the 28-week-old fetus.
"I have considered these submissions and I'm in agreement that indeed the evidence adduced by the Prosecution in support of baby Sharon doesn't support the charge of murder," Judge Githua said.
The case will be mentioned on Tuesday to set the dates for the start of the defense testimonies. Obado, through his lawyers Kioko Kilukumi and Rodger Saganba, argued in his final submissions last year that the prosecution had failed to present a solid case against him.
Open relationship
Obado maintains that he had an open relationship with Sharon Otieno and was committed to supporting her and their unborn child.
He also insists that he was at Raila Odinga's residence in Karen on the night Sharon was murdered.
Oyamo and Obiero also requested to be acquitted, claiming the prosecution's witnesses had given false testimony and that the evidence presented was not sufficient for a conviction.
The tragic murder occurred on the night of September 3 and 4, 2018, in Owade, Rachuonyo, Homa Bay County.
Sharon, who was 26 years old and pregnant, was abducted along with a journalist who later managed to escape by jumping from the vehicle. Sharon was killed during this abduction.
Obado was charged with Sharon's murder on September 24, 2018, and spent several months in remand before the Court of Appeal granted him bond.
Throughout the trial, 42 witnesses testified. Obado's defense has been that his arrest was the result of public pressure and that he cooperated fully with the police.
He further claimed that his detention caused immense personal suffering, impacting his family and his leadership role in Migori County.
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