Lawrence Warunge, a self-confessed murder suspect who confessed to killing four of his family members and a farmhand has been declared fit to stand trial.
A psychiatric report by Mathari Mental Hospital in Nairobi said that Warunge can stand a murder trial.
“Lawrence Warunge the murder suspect who confessed to killing his parents, 12-year old brother, his cousin & their farmhand in January, has been confirmed fit to stand trial. This follows a psychiatric report released by Mathari Mental Hospital, confirming that the 22-year-old can now answer to his crimes,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) said in a statement.
On January 26, a mental assessment report presented in court stated that Warunge was not of sound mind, therefore, not fit to stand a murder trial.
Warunge brutally killed his mother Ann Warunge, father Nicholas Warunge, his brother and nephew in January this year.
He also killed their farmhand James Kinyanjui who was working at their Karura home in Kiambaa, Kiambu County.
In his confession to DCI detectives who were grilling him, he said that he murdered his family because they all talked ill of him.
He said that his parents showed him no “affection” as they did with his other siblings.
Warunge also told the police that he was inspired by British crime thriller series “Killing Eve” into committing the murder.
He started with killing Kinyanjui then turned to his mother who was in the kitchen followed by his 12-year-old brother and then went for his father who tried to free by jumping of the balcony.
Incidentally, he got hold of him and stabbed him multiple times and slit his throat.
An autopsy report released by Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor indicated that the level of injury for Warunge’s father was severe compared to the others.
He ended the visceral act by killing his adopted brother who was 13. The helpless boy went on his knees and pleaded that his life is spared but Warunge consumed by rage, drove a nine-inch knife into the boy’s body.
The suspect told the police that he used a metal bar which he hit all victims on the head with to make sure they are dead.
Warunge was detained for another 30 days waiting court determination on what happens next.
