A man in Nakuru who was arrested after fatally stabbing his girlfriend claims he was in a state of “temporary madness” when he stabbed the victim.
On February 19, 2018, Edmond Ruto, a third-year Egerton University student, admitted to stabbing his girlfriend, Cynthia Cheplang’at, six times at Njokerio estate in Nakuru County.
Ruto testified in Nakuru before High Court Judge Joel Ngugi that his four-year incarceration at Nakuru GK Prisons had transformed him into a reformed man.
He also gave the court a certificate of good conduct for the correctional facility training he received.
“I am the cause of everything, and it pains me that my actions have caused unimaginable pain to both Chelang’at’s and my families.I apologize and regret everything “Ruto stated
In rebuttal,Kipkoech, the victim’s family Lawyer said “Ruto’s family had time between 2018 and 2021 to ask for forgiveness, but they did not do so until 2022. Their actions were not taken in good faith.”
Kipkoech went on to say that Ruto deserved a harsh sentence to serve as a deterrent to others who would commit the same crime.
“The court should give the accused a severe sentence as an example to others to send a message to men and women who use their spouses as punching bags,” Kipkoech said.
Ruto begged the judge to give him a three-year non-custodial sentence so he could use his abilities to assist other students in similar circumstances.
The Court is expected to issue sentencing of the matter on September 29,2022.
