This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
On November 29, 2019, a Nyeri court granted police permission to detain a third suspect in the murder of Joyce Syombua and her two children for 14 days to allow officers to complete their investigation.
The suspect, Mr. Peter Maina Mwangi, was arrested on Thursday in Nanyuki and will be held at Kiganjo Police Station.
State Counsel Martha Ndung'u told Nyeri Chief Magistrate Wendy Kagendo that the suspect had yet to record a statement with the police and that his mobile phone had been confiscated by homicide detectives.
Ms. Ndung'u stated that the case was being handled by the homicide department in Nairobi and that the police intended to move to various areas to harmonize facts as part of the investigations.
"The deceased persons are people considered as vulnerable persons in society, therefore investigations must be thoroughly carried out in order to have the right suspects in court," said Ms. Ndung'u.
Mr. Maina did not oppose the police application and was later escorted to a waiting private car by four detectives in civilian clothes.
Two other suspects, Major Peter Mugure and Collins Pamba, are being held separately for 21 days at Nanyuki and Narumoru police stations.
