Kenyan police officers deny triple murder

Defendants alleged to have killed human rights lawyer, client, driver in high-profile case

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Four police officers appeared Monday before a court in Nairobi on charges of killing human rights lawyer Willie Kimani and two other men in a case that has shaken Kenya.

The officers -- Leonard Mwangi, Fredrick Leliman, Silvia Wanjiku and Stephen Cheburet -- pleaded not guilty at the High Court to murdering the trio.

The bodies of Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and their driver Joseph Muruiri were found in a river 70 kilometers (43 miles) northeast of Nairobi on July 1. They had been beaten around the head and strangled.

They had last been seen at the Mavoko Law Court to the southeast of Nairobi on June 23 when Kimani lodged a complaint against police for allegedly shooting Mwenda in the arm during a traffic stop.

Prosecutor Nicholas Mutuku told the court that 45 witnesses had come forward and were currently being interviewed.

The killings led to nationwide protests against extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances as lawyers boycotted casework for a week.

A hearing will be held on Aug. 16.

Kaynak: