By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of a 15-year-old girl who rejected his sexual advances.
At the Naivasha Law Courts, Justice Grace Nzioki found Fredrick Mwonjoria guilty of the crime, which took place six years ago when he was a 17-year-old student at Nanyuki High School.
The prosecution, led by Counsel Shirley Chepkonga, called upon twelve witnesses to establish that the accused and the victim were neighbors, with the girl often seeking his help with her studies.
On the day of the incident, she visited his home for assistance with her schoolwork but did not return, leading her parents to search for her without success. The next day, her body was found along a roadside, and her father later confirmed her identity.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reported that a witness for the prosecution testified that the defendant ultimately admitted to the murder. He indicated that he had invited the victim over for a study session and, during this time, made an inappropriate advance towards her. When she refused, a confrontation took place.
“The deceased overpowered him and attempted to escape, but he stabbed her in the back. As she bled on the sofa, he panicked and moved her to the bedroom, where she remained in pain. Upon realizing she was unconscious, he stabbed her further in the face, chest, and back,” the ODPP said on X.
“During sentencing, the accused’s advocate pleaded with the court to treat him as a child and sentence him under the Children Act 2022,” the ODPP added.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) stated that the Prosecution strongly contested the plea, asserting that the defendant was no longer a minor and thus not eligible for such consideration.
They requested the court to impose a sentence that would serve both retributive and deterrent purposes, given the aggravating factors involved.
In accordance with legal statutes and established case law, the prosecution effectively demonstrated all components of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, which included the fact of death, the actions of the accused, and the presence of malice aforethought.