T. NashipaeDPP dismisses bond plea for suspects behind Edward Kiplagat's murder
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 01.02.24. | 12:18
According to the information based on the charge sheet, Lokere and Khalumi allegedly jointly murdered the athlete on the night of December 31, 2023, at Kimumu estate on the outskirts of Eldoret town within Moiben Sub County.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has refused to release on bond the men charged with killing Kenyan-born Ugandan athlete Edward Kiplagat popularly known as Benjamin.
Speaking during a court proceeding on Wednesday, 31 January at the Eldoret Court, State Counsel Anthony Fedha revealed that the state would serve the defense with the application to deny the suspects; David Ekhai Lokere alias Timo and Peter Ushuru Khalumi, 30, bond before hearing the application and determination.
According to the information based on the charge sheet, Lokere and Khalumi allegedly jointly murdered the athlete on the night of December 31, 2023, at Kimumu estate on the outskirts of Eldoret town within Moiben Sub County.
"We have a strong application to deny the duo bond. However, we request the court to allow us time to finalize the application and serve the counsel for the accused," Mr Fedha told Justice Robert Wananda.
George Sonkule, the defense attorney, said he would reply to the State's application after it was served without raising any objections.
Mr. Fedha informed the court that after probation officers provided a pre-bail report, the State would serve the defense with the application.
He urged the court to issue an order to probation officers to prepare a pre-bail report. The court directed probation officers to prepare the report before ODPP serving the defense with the said application.
Justice Wananda set the hearing of the bond application for February 15. The court further directed a full trial of the case to commence on March 7.
The deceased was laid to rest on January 11 at his home in Kamendi village, Trans-Nzoia County.
The late Benjamin, who was born in Kenya but represented Uganda in major competitions, was allegedly murdered in Eldoret’s Kimumu Estate. He was found dead on Sunday, 31, in his car's driver seat with knife stabs on the neck and chest.
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He had previously represented Uganda at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as well as competed in a series of competitions including the Shanghai Samsung Diamond League, Lausanne Athletissima in Switzerland, Paris Meeting Areva, and Hengelo Fanny Blankers- Koen Games in the Netherlands.
The deceased won silver in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 World Junior Championship and bronze at the 2012 Africa at the 2012 Africa Championship.
He also won the 2008 World Junior 3,000m steeplechase silver medal in a time of 8:19.24, behind Kenyan Jonathan Ndiku Muia with 8:17.28, and Kenyan Patrick Kipyegon Terer settling for bronze in 8:25.14.
He narrowly missed a podium finish in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi after settling for fourth place in the 3,000m steeplechase.
He was an important member of the 2011 World Championships team in Daegu, South Korea, finishing 10th, and the 2012 Olympic Games, reaching the semifinals.
His success reads like a book, but he also won a bronze medal at the Africa Championships in Porto Novo, Benin, in 2012 before finishing in the heats at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
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