The High court in Nyeri has granted the prime suspect of the defilement and murder case of a seven-year-old girl in Witemere Nyeri County, some 46 days to reflect after he pleaded guilty to murder charges.
Justice Kizito Magare has directed that the accused, 39-year-old Nicholas Julius Macharia be remanded in prison custody until the end of July this year when he will be presented in court again to retake the plea.
Justice Magare said that the accused had pleaded guilty to a capital offence on the first plea taking and the judge needed to take note that the accused understood the penalty for the charge which is a death sentence.
“The accused has pleaded guilty to the charge. The sentence for the plea is that this court will sentence him to death. But before the court proceeds with sentencing, he will be given some time in prison remand to reflect. The matter shall be mentioned again on July 29, 2025 when he will retake the plea which the court shall enter in its record on that day because I need to take note that he has reflected on it (penalty),” said Justice Magare.
Macharia is accused of committing the offence of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal code. According to his charge sheet, Macharia is accused of killing Tamara Blessing Kabura on May 24, 2025 at Witemere within Nyeri Township, in Nyeri County.
Earlier, the state prosecutor Anthony Kimani told the court that a mental assessment report filed in court showed that the accused was fit to take a plea. According to the mental evaluation report seen by KNA, Dr Juliana Mbuthia, the Consultant Psychiatrist at the Murang’a Level V hospital confirmed that Macharia is mentally well and fit to take plea.
“He was arrested due to murder. There is no past medical or surgical history, no past psychiatric history but gives history of use of alcohol and cigarettes, no family history of mental illness. He appears a calm man, able to express himself making eye contact,” reads part the Medical Assessment which was conducted on June 11.
“Clinical Opinion; Mentally well, fit to plead,” continues the medical report signed by Dr Mbuthia.
Macharia was first arraigned at the Nyeri Law Courts on May 27, before Senior Principal Magistrate Faith Munyi. The court ordered that he be held for 14 days to allow police to complete their investigations into the murder of Tamara, after her body was found buried in his house Kiawara slums on May 26.
By Wangari Mwangi and Brian Mwangi
