MMU student in girlfriend’s murder case declared unfit to stand trial, court orders re-evaluation

A mental assessment report has found that Eric Mutinda, a Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) student and the prime suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, Sylvia Kemunto, is mentally unfit to stand trial.

In a report filed in court, Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital says that after evaluation, they concluded that Mutinda is unstable.

According to the report, the first-year Multimedia University student was found to be mentally unstable.

Mutinda, who appeared without a relative to provide corroborative history, denied committing the offence but acknowledged that he had been charged with murder.

The Mathari Hospital psychiatrist noted that he was fairly groomed and cooperative with difficulty, but his speech was low in tone and pitch, and his history was considered unreliable.

"He is not fit to plead and recommended further corroborative history from his next of kin to complete the evaluation", the report indicates.

However, Kibera High Court Judge Diana Kavedza ordered the Prisons Department to return Mutinda to Mathari Hospital for a re-evaluation, this time accompanied by a relative to provide corroborative background information, despite the initial report.

Mutinda had initially pleaded not guilty, prompting the court to order a psychiatric evaluation to assess his mental fitness to stand trial.

The court is expected to receive the updated mental report before deciding on how the case will proceed.

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