Geologist killers get 40 years

Four were sentenced to 40 years in prison each for the murder of British geologist Campbell Rodney Bridges five years ago.

Mohamed Dadi Kokane, 42, Alfred Njuruka Makoko, 58, Samwel Mwachala Mwaghania, 49, and James Chacha Mwita, 56, were sentenced a day after their conviction.

Lady Justice Maureen Odero said Mr Bridges was in the prime of his life when he was murdered, leaving behind a wife and son.

Senior prosecuting counsel George Muriithi said the four deserved the death penalty as the offence was heinous and premeditated.

“There can be no mitigating factors in this case. They should suffer the death penalty,” he said.

Mr Bridges’ widow, Judith, said losing her husband has deeply traumatised the family.

The four men pleaded for a light sentence saying they had families to look after. They also said they had been in custody for a long time during the trial.

But Justice Odero said: “I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved that the four men acted with malice aforethought.”

She said the accused acted unlawfully in blocking a road and attacking Mr Bridges to prevent him from reaching his camp.

“The accused persons are criminally culpable for this loss of life. They set upon the victim and his team who were unarmed. The attack was unprovoked,” she said.

LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE

Mr Bridges was murdered on August 11, 2009 at Kambaga Mwasui ranch in Mwatate in Taita Taveta County.

He had mined gemstones since 1974 and had established two companies.

All witnesses testified that there had been a long-running dispute between Mr Bridges and local miners over mining rights at Mwasui and Mkuki ranches.

The court further noted that the killers were known to the witnesses as they lived in the vicinity.

“They interacted regularly and they all had interests in the mining industry, indeed the witnesses were able to identify each attacker by name,” she said.

The defence raised by Mr Kokane amounted to mere denial while that of Mr Makoko was not very persuasive, the judge said.

She said Mr Mwachala was positively identified by all the witnesses. But she acquitted Mr Daniel Mdachi Mnene, Mr Osman Abdi Hussein and Mr Crispus Mkunguzi Mngolia who had been charged together with the four.

She said she was not sure Mr Mnene took part in the attack and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

The court said there was no concrete evidence to link Mr Hussein to the crime.

The court also noted that despite the weaknesses of Mr Mkunguzi’s defence, it was also doubtful he participated in the attack.

The prosecution called 26 witnesses.