Court postpones plea hearing to allow accused officer secure legal representation.
Police officer Charles Ngulungu Kauwi on Thursday, May 21 failed to take plea after appearing in court over the fatal shooting of 22-year-old taxi driver Aden Mohamed Hassan in Garissa County.
Kauwi is expected to face a manslaughter charge contrary to Section 202 as read together with Section 205 of the Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, the officer allegedly caused Hassanβs death on April 21 at around 2:10am in the Modika area of Garissa County.
The plea was postponed to allow the accused officer time to secure legal representation. Lawyer Mahat Somane, representing the victimβs family, told the court that the family had no objection to the adjournment.
βOn behalf of the victimβs family, we have no objection to the plea being deferred to tomorrow to allow the accused person time to get a lawyer,β Mahat stated in court.
The killing sparked outrage in Garissa, with residents and activists continuing to call for accountability and justice for the slain taxi driver.
A strong delegation of political leaders and civil society representatives from Garissa also attended the court session in solidarity with the bereaved family. The group included Garissa County Nominated MP Hon. Umulkheir Harun, former Ambassador and aspiring Garissa Governor Hon. Mohamed Shidiye, Baraki Ward MCA Hon. Hassan Geley, Galbet Ward MCA Hon. Abubakar Mohamed, Garissa County civil society leader Hassan Gumo and among others, who accompanied the familyβs legal team during the proceedings.
