Matiang'i's Directive That Saved Embattled Lawyer Assa Nyakundi

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's national charge came as a blessing in disguise for renowned lawyer Assa Nyakundi.

On August 8, 2019, Matiang'i declared Monday, August 12, 2019, a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Adha, an Islamic festival.

The Muslim holiday observed on Monday saved Nyakundi from pleading to murder charges over the killing of his son, People Daily Reports.

However, the defence appeared before High Court Deputy Registrar Mukami Wachira on Tuesday 13, 2019 and she directed the case be mentioned on August 28 before the duty judge for further directions.

Initially, Nyakundi had filed three applications challenging Justice Jessie Lessit’s order to have him plead to the murder charge.

His lawyers, led by John Khaminwa, had however failed in their bid to block his plea taking in July.

The Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) Noordin Haji is yet to withdraw manslaughter charges, the major bone of contention, preferred against the lawyer at a Kiambu court.

Nyakundi is alleged to have killed his son by shooting him on March 17, in an incident he told police was accidental as he reached out for his pistol from the back seat of his car while driving home from church.

On June 20, 2019, Nyakundi was, spared the murder charge despite his admission that he accidentally shot dead his son.

According to past reports by Daily Nation, the embattled lawyer owed his success to his lawyers who fought tooth and nail to ensure that the only charge he has to face is manslaughter.

Haji had filed a suit seeking to have the lawyer charged with murder for allegedly shooting his son.

His lawyers, on the other hand, opposed the move arguing that the charge could not proceed given that the lawyer was still facing a manslaughter charge related to the matter.

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