Betty Tett’s son accuses family of treating him as ‘black sheep in the family’
NAIROBI, KENYA: A foster son of former MP Betty Tett, serving a death sentence has blamed the politician and her husband for his conviction claiming that he was treated as a black sheep in the family.
David William Tett who has lodged an appeal seeking his release on bail told the High Court in Nairobi that the reason for his arrest, fabrication of evidence, and subsequent conviction by a magistrate, arose solely from a petty family feud between him and the family. “It is the accused contention that his parents view him as a black sheep of the family and a failure .
The criminal proceedings are a way of seeking revenge and malice,” his lawyer John Swaka said. Former Nairobi magistrate Kiarie Waweru Kiarie, now judge handed the death penalty to David after he found him guilty of robbing his father at gun point in June 28, 2013. But David, claims that there is a possibility that the case was manufactured by three other children of Mrs Tett and William Mulready Tett, who have an interest in portraying him in bad light so as to prevent him from getting family land.
David whose case was before judges Msagha Mbogholi and Lydia Achode argued that the case was manufactured because the witnesses were from the family of Mrs Tett and Mulready including their workers. David has also asked the court to release him on bail pending the determination of his appeal because he is suffering from diabetes. He says the medical facilities in prison are inadequate for him. But the the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has opposed the release of William on bail pending his appeal.
“The appellant is indeed a high flight risk since he has already been convicted for a capital offence with a mandatory death penalty . The propensity to jump bail is overwhelmingly high compared to that of fulfilling the terms of bail granted,” said prosecution counsel, Victor Kabaka. The prosecution has also dismissed the claims by David that his conviction was based on family feud. “His allegation of having been a black sheep in the family, was disapproved by evidence to the effect that he was always assisted when in need by his foster parents,” added Kabaka.
Kabaka added that the David’s defence was considered by the trial court and rejected for lack of credibility. He was also found to be a pathological liar, he told the court. The court will on May 13 decide if David will be released on bail pending appeal.
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Betty Tett’s son accuses family of treating him as ‘black sheep in the family’
