Guilty Verdict for Murder of Athlete Benjamin Kiplagat

Peter Ushuru and David Ekai were found guilty by the Eldoret High Court for the murder of Kenyan-born Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat on December 31, 2023. Justice Reuben Nyakundi upheld that scientific evidence and CCTV footage linked the offenders to the scene, despite their claims of innocence. The footage showed them pursuing Kiplagat, leading to significant legal implications as sentencing approaches on November 4.

Two men, Peter Ushuru, 30, and David Ekai, 25, were found guilty of murdering Kenya-born Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat by Justice Reuben Nyakundi of the Eldoret High Court. The ruling, delivered on a recent Monday, determined that scientific evidence sufficiently linked the accused to the crime committed on December 31, 2023. Reports reveal that Ekai was riding a boda boda motorbike and masquerading as a client to Ushuru during the incident. The court has also referred to CCTV footage that clearly depicted Ushuru and Ekai pursuing Kiplagat in his pickup truck as he drove toward his residence in Kimumu Estate, situated along the Eldoret-Iten highway. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that one of the assailants brandished a knife, threatening Kiplagat while a boda boda rider appeared to assist the attackers. During the proceedings, Justice Nyakundi stated, “Scientific evidence that was produced before my court during the trial places the two of you at the scene of the brutal murder on the night of December 31, 2023, at Kimumu Estate on the outskirts of Eldoret town.” Despite the incriminating evidence, both defendants denied their involvement. Ushuru maintained his alibi, asserting that he was at a nightclub in Eldoret when Kiplagat was attacked. “I was enjoying a good time at a night club in Eldoret town on the night the said athlete was waylaid and killed by some people whom I do not know,” he testified, alleging police brutality during his arrest, where he claimed officers struck him and confiscated his belongings. Ekai, for his part, testified that he was transporting customers around Eldoret at the time and alleged he was robbed by an unknown stranger during Kiplagat’s murder. “I met a customer in Eldoret town who asked if I could take him to Kimumu estate and I agreed on the condition that he pay me Sh300 for the journey to his house,” he explained. He added that he yielded to the demands of the armed passenger who subsequently fled the scene on the motorcycle. Legal representation for both defendants, provided by lawyers Mathai Maina and George Sonkule, will continue as the sentencing phase is scheduled for November 4.

The murder of Benjamin Kiplagat, a prominent Kenya-born athlete who excelled in the 3,000 meters steeplechase, has drawn significant attention due to the circumstances surrounding the crime, including the use of scientific evidence and surveillance footage in the court proceedings. Kiplagat was killed in the Kimumu Estate vicinity, and the case raises broader issues concerning safety and criminal activity in urban areas, particularly targeting individuals known for their achievements in sports and public life.

The conviction of Peter Ushuru and David Ekai underscores the importance of scientific evidence in securing justice for violent crimes. As the legal process moves towards sentencing, this case highlights the persistent challenges of violent crime and the vital role of judicial systems in addressing such heinous acts. The community will be watching closely as the court prepares to deliver its decision on November 4, which may serve as a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice for Benjamin Kiplagat.

Original Source: nation.africa