The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured a 15-year prison sentence for Lawrence Gesore Sagero, who was found guilty of murdering his wife, Nancy Mongina, in Nyamira County.

Nyamira High Court Judge Lady Justice Cherere sentenced Sagero after finding him guilty of murder contrary to Section 203, read together with Section 204 of the Penal Code.

The court heard that Sagero killed Mongina on April 18, 2024, at around 9am in Borioba Village, Borangi Location, Nyamira North Sub-County.

Sagero denied the charge during the trial, with the prosecution, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joel Kibet Chirchir, presenting evidence to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The prosecution called six witnesses whose testimonies linked Sagero to the killing.

A doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination told the court that Mongina died from severe head injuries caused by blunt force trauma.

Medical evidence showed that she had sustained repeated blows to the head, resulting in a fractured skull, extensive bleeding in the brain and eventual cardiovascular arrest.

In its determination, the court found that the nature and severity of the injuries demonstrated malice aforethought, establishing the elements of murder.

While delivering the sentence, Justice Cherere considered the seriousness of the offence alongside the mitigating circumstances presented by the defence.

“Having balanced the gravity of the offending conduct against the mitigating circumstances, the Court considers that a substantial custodial sentence is warranted, but that the mitigation justifies a sentence below the maximum prescribed by law,” the judge ruled.

Sagero was then sentenced to 15 years in prison, but has 14 days to appeal the sentence.