Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado will have to defend himself after the court ruled that he has a case to answer in the murder case of Sharon Otieno.
In a ruling issued on Thursday, January 30 by Justice Cecilia Githua, it was ruled that there was sufficient evidence to put Obado on his defence.
Also put on defence were Obado's personal assistant Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero.
"After considering all the evidence as well as oral and written submissions by counsel and all materials placed before me, I have come to the conclusion that there is sufficient evidence to put accused persons on their defence on count one," the judge ruled.
However, the three got a reprieve when the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to place the three on their defence with regard to the murder of Sharon's unborn baby.
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"I have considered these submissions and I'm in agreement that indeed, the evidence adduced by the prosecution in support of Sharon’s baby doesn't support the charge of murder," the judge added.
Consequently, the judge set February 25 as the next court date.
Obado and his co-accused persons were arrested and charged with the murder of Sharon which occurred in 2018.
During the hearing of the case, the prosecution presented 42 witnesses.
Notably, during the court proceedings, a witness attached to DCI's cybercrime investigations sub-unit detailed that Sharon was well known to the former county boss and his PA.
It was also confirmed that Obado was the father of Sharon's unborn child.
"The witness further told the court that it was visible from the deceased’s body that she was pregnant and that the body had visible injuries of a knife stub on the left side close to the heart," ODPP noted after a court session on May 7, 2024.
"He also confirmed to the court that after the Post Mortem of both Sharon and her unborn child, the doctor formed the opinion that Sharon was 7 months pregnant and that the cause of death was severe haemorrhage due to a sharp object force trauma and that there were features of strangulation, while that of the unborn child was due to abdominal trauma caused by a sharp object."
