Judge asks Muite to defend ‘serial killer’ Onyancha
File | NATION
Suspected serial killer Philip Ondara Onyancha. He is facing several counts of murder and rape.
What you need to know:
- The senior counsel was leaving the court when the judge asked him to represent the accused in rape and murder cases
Senior counsel Paul Muite was on Monday appointed to defend a suspected serial killer.
The announcement was made by Mr Justice Nicholas Ombija when Mr Muite appeared before him in a case where accident victims are seeking compensation from an insurer.
Mr Philip Ondara Onyancha will be defended by Mr Muite, Mr Patrick Ngunjiri and Mr David Mugo.
The trio had appeared before the judge to prosecute the case against DirectLine Assurance Company Limited. The case did not proceed.
Mr Muite was leaving the court when the judge asked him to defend Mr Onyancha, who was arrested last year and allegedly confessed to killing and drinking the blood of his victims, most of them women.
“You are a senior counsel and can represent the accused. All lawyers are declining to defend him. As a senior counsel you can handle the brief,” the judge said.
“I will defend him. May we take five days in July 2011 so that I can dispose of the case,” Mr Muite said.
The judge directed prosecutors Moses Omirera, Fridah Mwanza and Thomas Imbali to hand over the files to Mr Muite.
Mr Omirera said he had lined up seven witnesses to testify on Monday.
“Your lordship I had lined up seven civilian witnesses to testify against Mr Onyancha but we could not proceed since he lacks a defence counsel,” the State prosecutor told the judge. The judge directed that the case proceeds from July 5 upto July 11.
Two weeks ago, Mr Peter Simani, who had been allocated the brief to defend the suspect, withdrew from the case following his appointment by President Kibaki to preside over the political parties dispute resolution tribunal.
Mr Onyancha is facing several counts of murder and rape.
On Monday, the case fixed for hearing was the one he has been charged with murdering Ms Catherine Chelangat on November 22, 2008, at Karen/Lang’ata Nairobi.
Mr Onyancha had last year allegedly confessed to having been inducted into occult by his high school teacher.
The court heard that his teacher administered an oath on him, purporting to bind him to commit murder.
