Three suspects in the case of baby Junior Sagini were Thursday charged afresh.
Alex Ochogo, Rael Nyakerario and Pacificah Nyakerario took a new plea after the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) successfully requested the court to amend the charges of attempted murder to grievous harm.
The three had been charged with unlawfully attempted murder contrary to section 220(a) of the penal code when they appeared before Resident Magistrate Christine Ogweno at the Kisii Law Courts.
Prosecutor Hillary Kaino made an application to the court to amend the charges in which the accused persons were charged for attempted murder to be charged with grievous bodily harm according to section 4 of the Penal Code.
The accused persons alleged that they gouged Baby Sagini’s eyes on December 13, and 14 2022 at Ikuruma Village, Marani sub-county Kisii County.
The boy was found abandoned in a maize farm and rushed to hospital.
Kaino said that from the evidence they have gathered from the ground, it is sufficient for the accused persons to be charged with grievous harm.
George Morara appeared in Court as an interested party representing Kisii County Government and said that they are in agreement with the amendment of the charges.
Morara said that the witness protection agency has requested for the hearing date to be set for the witnesses to avail themselves to record statements.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court agreed on the application of amendment of the charges.
The Magistrate said due to the weight of the accused person court appointed Moguche Violet and Kerosi Ondieki to represent the accused persons.
The hearing of the case will be on February 24 and March 3, 2023.
