Edmond Ruto, a murder suspect who recently appeared before Kenyan High Court judge Joel Ngugi, has said that he stabbed his girlfriend to death because he was in a state of ‘temporary madness’.
According to Ruto, he stabbed his girlfriend Cynthia Cheplang’ six times on February 19, 2018.
While presenting a certificate of good conduct before the court, the suspect stated that he’s a reformed man following the training he received at Nakuru GK prisons.
He also pleaded with the court to grant him a non-custodial sentence of three years so that he can use the skills he acquired to help other students battling similar cases.
Ruto said;
“I am the cause of everything and it pains me because my actions brought unimaginable pain to both Chelang’at’s family and mine. I am sorry and I regret everything,
“If I knew what I know now, may be Chelang’at would still be alive today.”
The murder suspect was however countered by the victim’s lawyer Kipkoech Ng’etich who stated that he was pretending to be apologetic.
According to Ng’etich, Ruto and his family had all the time to ask for forgiveness but they never did.
He said;
“Ruto’s family had time between 2018 and 2021 but they did not ask for forgiveness until 2022. Their action not in good faith.”
The lawyer stressed that Ruto deserved a harsh sentence to teach other similar offenders of the repercussions for their actions.
Ng’etich said;
“To send a message to men and women who use their spouses as punching bags, the court should give the accused a severe sentence, as an example to others.”
Ruto will be sentenced on September 29, 2022.
