Lawyer Calvin Musachi Ngaira, who was allegedly killed by his colleague during a house party in Eldoret in 2019.
Detectives investigating a murder case facing an Eldoret lawyer have released CCTV footage showing how he hit his colleague with a beer bottle during a house party, leading to his death.
The CCTV footage was presented before the High Court in Eldoret by a senior cyber-crime detective from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi.
At least 10 friends had gathered for a three-day house party organised by another Eldoret lawyer at an apartment in the Annex area near the Moi University School of Law, along the busy Eldoret-Nakuru highway where the tragedy happened.
The host had invited more than 10 friends, including the accused lawyer Abel Mogaka and their colleague Calvin Musachi Ngaira to the party.
Inspector Daniel Kieni told Justice Robert Wananda and the packed court that a fierce fight ensued between Mr Ngaira and Mr Mogaka outside the apartment, and Mr Mogaka used a broken bottle to hit Mr Ngaira on the left side of his neck.
The late Ngaira had practiced for barely three months in Eldoret Town by his death on May 18, 2019.
Mr Kieni testified that the accused who is out on Sh1 million bond used force to stab the deceased with the beer bottle, dismissing claims by the accused person that the slain lawyer was the aggressor.
DCI Cyber Crime expert Daniel Kieni takes an oath at the Eldoret high court on February 26, 2025.
“The CCTV footage clearly shows the accused person holding something in his right hand while running after the slain lawyer and stabbing him on the left side of his neck, even after he (deceased) retreated from the fight,” the detective said in his evidence.
Mr Ngaira succumbed to the injuries at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret where he was rushed in critical condition by his partying friends.
In the CCTV footage, Mr Mogaka and Mr Ngaira are seen walking from the apartment house and engaging in a cordial talk before returning to the house where the party was going on.
According to Kieni, moments later, the accused is seen holding a glass as he walks out of the house, followed by the slain lawyer, before a fight ensues between them.
During the trial, Kieni told the Judge that he retrieved the footage at the scene while in the company of the Investigating Officer (IO), Sergeant Sophia Hassan based at Langas police station.
The court heard that the timing of the tragic incident was between 1708 hours to 1715 hours on May 18, 2019.
Prosecution counsel Brenda Oduor applied to recall the first witness Edith Chebet to shed light on the events of that day.
She told the Judge that they intend to recall only one witness, and the investigating officer before they close their case.
Justice Wanada granted the prosecution counsel their request and said the defence team would also have a chance to cross-examine the said witness. He said this would not prejudice the case as claimed by the accused person.
Hearing of the matter will continue on April 9.
