Nakuru Criminal Court on Wednesday, January 18, jailed a man who abandoned a robbery mission and ended up befriending his victim.
In a dramatic turn of events that happened on the night of March 14, 2017, in Bahati, Nakuru County, an armed robber fell in love with a domestic worker of a family that the gang had attacked.
The robber, aborted the mission and later compromised the operations of his gang.
“One of the assailants stood out, he was in possession of an AK47 and helped her during the ordeal and assured her that all will be well.
"She described the said assailant as short, dark and thin. She identified him as the first accused,” read part of the judgement by principal magistrate Yvonne Khatambi.
On the fateful night, the man and his gang of four set out for an operation in the outskirts of Nakuru City.
Nakuru Principal Magistrate Yvonne Khatambi was told that the attacker and his accomplice staged an eight-hour terror on the family of James Wamugunda, a farmer and businessman.
However, then man soon developed romantic feelings towards the family's maid, and openly expressed his desire to have her as a life partner.
His actions were a clear breach of code of conduct among robbers, but that never deterred him from expressing romance to the househelp who was under siege.
The man's actions would later prove very costly for his gang members who were beating up the victims and ransacking all corners of the house as he was busy assuring the housegirl of her safety.
While he was charming his newly-found love, the rest of the gang that wielded pistols and AK47 guns, went on to steal money and phones.
The man later struck a deal with the house-girl and exchanged contacts at around 5am before stashing the proceeds of the crime into Wamugunda's vehicle.
His colleagues on the other hand sexually assaulted the house-girl at a servant's house, hence sending his crime partner into a frenzy.
Angered by the actions of his gang members, he snitched on the robbers and unreservedly apologised to Wamugunda's family.
The stolen vehicle was later recovered with the help of the man who continued to express his feelings towards the lady and even requested that they meet.
The house-girl later agreed to meet him at the Choices hotel in Mchanganyiko trading centre within Bahati, but under the instruction of police officers from Nakuru.
He was however arrested and agreed to help police officers to apprehend his colleagues who had buried the guns at farm in Nakuru.
The rest of the gang was later nabbed and charged with six counts relating to robbery with violence, handling of stolen goods, gang rape and possession of firearms and ammunition.
However, the man who fell in love was found guilty of robbery with violence and being in possession of firearms and ammunition without license, and was duly processed for jail term pending sentencing that will take place on January 23, 2023.
He pleaded for leniency since he helped police officers with investigations.
