How DCI Used Dumped Energy Drink to Hunt Willie Kimani's Killers

An undated photo of the late Lawyer Willie Kimani in court
An undated photo of the late Lawyer Willie Kimani in court
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In the midst of investigations into the brutal murder of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwendwa and their driver Joseph Muiruri, DCI sleuths recovered cans of energy drinks, human faecal remains, and a cigarette butt at the crime scene.

From the DCI reports, officer Fredrick Leliman and other individuals had been identified as people of interest after the trio went missing.

When their bodies were discovered dumped in Athi River, DCI used officer Fredrick Leliman's police phone to track his movements, DCI hit a dead end when transmissions signals stagnated at Soweto near the main Mombasa highway between  7.30 pm and 11.50 pm on June 23, 2016.

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A photo of DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road.
Photo
DCI

Curiosity peaked, and the team dashed to the area for more investigations. According to the DCI, the residents recounted that a motor vehicle had been parked by the roadside near the area of interest.

In the August edition of their Magazine, DCI stated that little did they know what lay in the knee-high grass and acacia tree-filled Soweto site.

"The site was secured and subjected to forensic evidence gathering with the help of FBI personnel. All the materials gathered in the area have been taken for analysis. They include photographs, cans of energy drinks, cigarette filters, and a sample of human waste from the place where it is believed the killings took place," read the DCI report.

Further DNA tests conducted on the items by an analyst at the Government Chemist Laboratories only identified as Kimani, implicated Leliman, Stephen Cheburet, Sylvia Wanjiku, and Peter Ngugi, and Leonard Mwangi in the murder of the three.

"The DNA profiles generated from the cigarette butts matched the DNA profiles generated from the reference sample Peter Ngugi," read part of the judgment. 

On July 22, 2022, the case was finally closed when Justice Jessie Lessit found Fredrick Leliman, Stephen Cheburet, and Slyvia Wanjiku guilty of murder.

Peter Ngugi, a police informer was also found guilty of aiding to execute the murder plans. Justice Lessit declared that those convicted be held until their sentencing on September 28.

Leonard Mwangi who is also facing another murder case was set free, the Court gave him benefit of doubt.

The murder of Willie Kimani and the others sparked uproar from the public and lawyers who condemned extrajudicial killings.

The accused persons in the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani from left Peter Ngugi, Leonard Mwangi, Stephen Cheburet and Fredrick Leliman during the final judgement at Milimani law Courts on Friday July 22, 2022
The accused persons in the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani from left are Peter Ngugi, Leonard Mwangi, Stephen Cheburet and Fredrick Leliman during the final judgement at Milimani law courts on Friday, July 22, 2022
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