The Eldoret High Court has delivered its judgment in the murder of LGBQT activist, placing his friend, Jacktone Odhiambo, who is the prime suspect at the scene of crime.
In the much-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday by Justice Reuben Nyakundi, the court found freelance photographer guilty of the murder of Edwin Kiptoo, alias Chiloba.
The judgment comes barely a year after the awful murder, which sparked global uproar.
According Justice Nyakundi, the evidence adduce before the court proves beyond reasonable doubt that the suspect was with the deceased in his last day.
He said the convict was the last person to be seen with slain former student of University of Eldoret on the eve of 2022 before his decomposed body was found six days later dumped along the roadside in Uasin Gishu County.
He stated that evidences that were adduced before his court by the prosecution witnesses among them the Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor pointed to the convict as the prime suspect in his gruesome murder.
Justice Nyakundi also said that he relied on crucial evidence that included call data from Safaricom and M-Pesa statements belonging to the deceased.
He added that he relied on data analyst, a massage therapist and a forensic expert to arrive at his decision to convict Odhiambo with the murder of the Mr Chiloba.
“There is scientific evidence from a Government Pathologist that placed Jackstone Odhiambo at the scene of crime where the body of the slain LGBTQ activist was found on the day he was reported missing, “ruled Nyakundi.
Justice Nyakundi set December 16, 2024 as the sentencing date.
Odhiambo is accused of killing Chiloba who was studying for degree in Apparel Fashion and Design at University of Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County.
Odhiambo denied killing Chiloba who is said to have been his lover, between December 31, 2022 and January 3, 2023, at Noble Breeze Apartments in Chebisaas area, Moiben sub-county.
Chiloba's mutilated body was discovered stashed in a metallic box on Kipkenyo-Kaptinga road in Kapseret Sub County on January 3, 2023.
The Judge further stated that Odhiambo sexually molested Chilobo whom he described as his best friend before he plotted his death which he said was cruel at an apartment where they used to live as a couple.
"The deceased had defensive marks on his hands which indicated that he tried to defend himself from an attack by Odhiambo but all was in vain as he was eventually killed in cold blood,” said the Judge.
He highlighted that the killing of the slain final year university student in the hands of his lover was planned as he declared that the convicted was guilty and was charged in the murder of his best friend.
The Judge said that Odhiambo left the decomposing body of Chiloba in their one room apartment and went on a spending spree in Eldoret town using money from the deceased’s mobile phone.
“Immediately after terminating the life of his best friend, Odhiambo went on a spending spree in various night clubs in Eldoret town using the deceased's money from his M-Pesa account,” the Judge said.
According to the Judge, the convict went as far as paying for massage and sex services using the deceased’s M-Pesa number.
During a previous hearing of the matter, the court was told that the accused bought a metallic box that he hoarded the body of Chiloba through the deceased’s M-Pesa number.
