A British businessman arrested after a Kenyan woman died from a gunshot wound in his house in Karen, Nairobi, has been charged with her murder.
Richard Alden, 53, who appeared before High Court Judge Stella Mutuku, will be detained until June 16, when his application for bail will be heard.
Mr Alden denied killing Grace Wangechi Kinyanjui, 42, at his home on Windy Ridge Road, Karen, on June 4.
It had initially been reported that the woman had been playing with the firearm before she accidentally shot herself.
However, investigators have since ruled out this theory and charged Mr Alden with murder.
In an affidavit served to the prosecution in court on Friday, Mr Alden says he should be released on bond as he “is a father of three children and has an ailing mother who depends on him.”
“I am presently facing allegations of murder and however grave the allegations may be, it cannot be a basis to deny me my basic fundamental rights and freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution,” the suspect’s sworn affidavit reads.
URGENT HEARING
His lawyer, Cliff Ombeta, said Mr Alden had been in police custody since June 4 and wanted his application for bond heard urgently.
“My family solely depends on me and they will suffer if I continue to be detained,” Mr Alden states in the affidavit.
Mr Ombeta said his client was willing to abide by any conditions the court may peg to his bond terms.
Police launched a murder inquiry after doctors reportedly found that Ms Kinyanjui had injuries on her fingers, raising more questions about the manner of her death.
A lawyer had argued that the deceased shot herself while taking a “selfie.”
Prosecutors told the judge that Mr Alden had been taken for a psychiatric examination and was declared fit to stand trial.
-nation.co.ke
