A form two girl who was accused of strangling her baby to death will not stand trial after a court in Eldoret was on Wednesday, November 16, told that she is mentally unfit.
A mental test report that was tabled in Court showed that the 17-year-old girl is practically not fit to stand trial.
The girl killed her child through strangulation in June 2022, for reasons unknown to anyone.
She was unable to stand trial immediately after her arrest since the court had ordered a medical examination to be conducted on her.
State Counsel Juliet Asiyo told Justice Reuben Nyakundi that the girl was examined at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and found to be unfit to stand trial.
"Your honour, the student is not fit to stand trial for the murder case, going by the findings of the mental assessment report from a psychiatrist which is in our possession,” Asiyo took notice.
The state will therefore not press murder charges against her, but will request for a medical custodial provisions.
The judge further declined to release her on bond, without a clear direction from her guardians.
"I was ready and willing to release this learner on bond so that she can go home. But since none of her parents or guardians has come to court, I order that she be taken back to Eldoret GK Prison."
The case will be mentioned on February to give direction on if the girl will plead to the charges.
Mental fitness to stand trial is one of requirements that a murder suspect must undergo before taking a plea in a court of law.
It is reported that the form-two girl allegedly strangled the toddler while she was in her full school uniform.
Officers from Eldoret's Directorate of Criminal Investigations told the court that the incident took place in Kaptel village in Nandi County.
