Colins Okundi, the suspect in the murder of Ida Odinga’s bodyguard, has been remanded to the Kisumu Maximum Prison pending a mental evaluation.
This came after Senior Resident Magistrate Beryl Omollo granted the prosecution’s request to detain the suspect while the process was carried out.
The magistrate stated that the evaluation will take place at Kisumu’s Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Prosecutor Vitsengwa Proscovia requested that the suspect be held at the Kisumu maximum prison until the assessment was completed in her application.
She stated that the case is serious and that they want to first determine the accused’s mental state before taking a plea.
She went on to say that a murder case cannot be prosecuted unless the accused’s mental state is determined.
Lawyer Onkendi, on the other hand, objected to the application, claiming that the prosecution had 14 days to subject the accused person to medical examination but chose not to take advantage of the opportunity.
The prosecution, on the other hand, maintained that the exercise was necessary in the interest of justice.
“It is thus proper for the same to be done,” the prosecutor said, adding that the suspect advocate’s opposition is misguided.
The application was granted by Senior Resident Magistrate Omollo.
She also stated that the suspect will appear in court on November 3 to enter a plea.
