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Court declares university student unfit to stand trial in girlfriend’s murder case

National
Grace Githinji
Author: Grace Githinji
1 min.read

A Nairobi court has found that Multimedia University student Eric Mutinda Philip is mentally unfit to stand trial in the murder case of his girlfriend, Sylvia Kemunto, delaying what had become a high-profile prosecution.

Judge Diana Kavedza paused proceedings after reviewing a psychiatric report from Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital during a June 23 court session. According to the report, the 18-year-old appeared fairly groomed but spoke in alow tone and pitch. Moreover, the evaluation pointed out that Mutinda provided unreliable personal history, and the hospital lacked essential context because he attended without a family member. Therefore, the psychiatrist concluded, “He is not fit to plead and recommended further corroborative history from his next of kin to complete the evaluation.”

Consequently, the judge directed the Prisons Department to return Mutinda to Mathari with a relative and prepare a more comprehensive report. She scheduled the next hearing for Friday, June 27, to review the updated findings. In the meantime, Mutinda remains in custody.

Mutinda pleaded not guilty to Kemunto’s murder after her body was discovered on a hostel rooftop on April 2, following her disappearance on March 30. The postmortem revealed she died from blunt force to the head and strangulation. Authorities quickly arrested Mutinda, and prosecutors assembled a list of 19 witnesses expected to testify.

Additionally, the court emphasized the importance of this process. A suspect must understand the charges to defend themselves properly. Evaluating Mutinda’s mental fitness ensures that the trial proceeds fairly and aligns with constitutional rights.

Public interest in the case remains high. Educators and mental health professionals have urged universities to boost psychological support on campuses. They argue that better early intervention could prevent similar tragedies and address emotional distress among students.

Moreover, legal experts noted that mental fitness assessments do not hinder justice. Instead, they reinforce it. If doctors later confirm Mutinda’s capacity to stand trial, proceedings can resume. However, a consistent finding of instability may result in extended treatment under Kenya’s mental health laws rather than a criminal trial.

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Grace Githinji
Grace Githinji

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