This archive report was first published on 16 August 2019.
On July 27, 71-year-old Beatrice Maua was brutally murdered in Embali village, Emuhaya sub-county, Vihiga. Her body was found in a maize plantation with signs of strangulation and evidence of sexual assault.
Joseph Omwenga, alias Sidi, was arrested on July 29 and has been in police custody since. He was charged with raping and killing Maua, and a psychiatric test confirmed he is fit to stand trial.
When Omwenga appeared before High Court judge William Musyoka, he denied the charges. He was granted a Sh250,000 bond with a surety of similar amount and the case is set to be heard on November 26.
According to court documents, Maua was accosted on her way home and her body was found a few meters from the main road. Blood samples were extracted from her to be matched with those of the suspect.
