The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) now claims the main suspect in the Mirema drive shooting was not the mastermind but the driver of the getaway vehicle.
DCI told the court on Tuesday, May 24, that Dennis Karani Gichoki, whom it named as the main suspect, was not the man who pulled the trigger, killing Samuel Mugota on the spot.
Appearing at the Milimani Magistrate court, the DCI said that as much as Karani may not have pulled the trigger, he was suspected to have aided and abetted the crime by allegedly driving the getaway vehicle.
The lead investigating officer noted that the man captured in the CCTV footage shooting Mugota was not working alone.
"This crime was committed by more than two actors your honour. The respondent before the court is highly suspected to be the person behind the wheel," the lead investigator told the court.
In addition, the officer claimed that Karani was still in possession of the firearm, which was well hidden. He further asked for the court to allow police hold Karani longer as efforts to recover the murder weapon continue.
The officer added that the murder weapon was most likely hidden in Mombasa, Kiambu or Nakuru. Further, the police noted that they were yet to record a statement from family members of the slain businessman.
"It's in the interest of justice that the family of the deceased are still mourning and when we wanted to record their statements, we were unable because they are still traumatised," the officer told the court.
The court allowed police to hold Karani for 14 days, further ordering police to speed up investigations. The court also made the suspect aware of his right to legal representation.
Karani surrendered himself to the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road on May 23, four days after the investigating agency named him as the mastermind of the broad daylight shooting. He, however, claimed that he was innocent.
"I was in Nakuru when I learnt that the DCI labelled me as the most dangerous and armed criminal. At the time of his murder, I was in Nakuru when I heard that he has been killed. I learnt about his death through the media," Karani stated.
The DCI, in earlier statement, claimed that Karani and Mugota differed on the proceeds of a drug spiking syndicate which employed more than 50 women and targeted unsuspecting revellers in entertainment joints.
