Prison Warder sentenced to three years for killing varsity student

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A prison warder found guilty of killing an expectant university student has been sentenced to serve three years in prison.

Dismus Gitenge was charged with causing the death of the Kenyatta University student by dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident and giving false information to the police.

Senior Resident Magistrate Electa Riany sentenced him to serve three years for the offence of causing death, six months for giving police false information and in addition cancelled his license.

While delivering the sentence, the magistrate considered that the victim was six months pregnant and the effect of the death to her family. The court heard that the mother attempted suicide as a result of the accident.

The magistrate refuted claims that the officer had hit a cow.
Gitenge was accused of killing Maureen Wambui and later went to the police and informed them that he had hit a cow along Mombasa Road on 15th July 2018.

The deceased was leaving a club near near Next Gen mall in the company of her boyfriend when the incident occurred.

Gitenge’s lawyer Danstun Omari stated that the defense was dissatisfied with the judgment and had instructions to appeal since he was convicted without the option of a fine.
Omari plans to apply for bail pending the appeal.

“Only Parliament can amend section 46 of the traffic act. You can not criminalize a traffic offence,” said Omari.

The court heard that after hitting the victim, the prison warder drove three kilometers with her body on the roof of his Volkswagen and dumped it at South C Estate.

Omari had told court that his client was remorseful and urged the court to grant him a non-custodial sentence.