Man who clung on Raila's chopper in Meru denies suicide charges
Julius Mwithalii (right) at the Maua Law Courts cells after appearing before Senior Resident Magistrate Antony Munene where he was charged with attempted suicide on January 30 2017. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The man took security officers by surprise when he clung on the chopper last week.
- He managed to alight and escaped unhurt more than 15 kilometres from the Maili Tatu grounds where the chopper took off.
- The court ordered a mental check-up following an application by defence lawyer Hosea Mutembei, before Mr Mwithalii appears in the same court on Friday.
The man who clung on Cord leader Raila Odinga’s chopper last week has denied charges of attempted suicide before a Maua court.
Senior Resident Magistrate Anthony Munene ruled yesterday that Julius Mwithalii remain in custody until he undergoes a mental check-up.
Mr Mwithalii was accused of dangerously hanging on the chopper on January 26.
The court ordered a mental check-up following an application by defence lawyer Hosea Mutembei, before Mr Mwithalii appears in the same court on Friday.
Mr Mutembei pleaded with the court to give his client a lenient bond, saying he is the sole breadwinner for his family of six siblings.
The lawyer added that the prosecution cannot support the charge of attempted suicide, saying it should produce a statement of witnesses in court.
“The accused is the sole breadwinner because his father is serving a life sentence.
"Two of his siblings have no legs and one has no arms after they were attacked by their father.
"The mother is also disabled. I plead with the court to give him a lenient bond,” he said.
