Mr. Bowman let out a little discreet cough and as if that was not enough, he took out his handkerchief and wiped his face. There was nothing on it. He then removed from the same face his reading glasses and wiped them slowly and carefully. That one was justified. It was for clear reading. He coughed once again though his throat was still clear. His voice then filled the courtroom.
“Mr. Onesmus Omondi, Mr. Pius Chege and Mr. Bernard Mwaura, before I start reading this judgment, that of course concerns you three, and whose hearing ended two weeks ago, I would like to take this opportunity to ask you three whether you have any objections or good reasons to stop me from going ahead. Onesmus Omondi?”
“No your Honour.”
“Pius Chege?”
“No! You can go ahead.”
“Bernard Mwaura?”
“No your Honour.”
“So. “ Mr. Bowman went on. “Since there are no objections from either side, l will start right away reading the judgment. All I would advice you is to be very attentive.” Justice Alfred Bowman spent the next two hours reading the judgment. He did this so smartly without omitting any evidence brought before him. He cited all the weak points, which in one way or another favored some of the accused and the strong points from witnesses, which clearly showed to where some of the accused were heeded. Not to freedom.
“This court has therefore found the three of you guilty and has proved beyond doubt that you committed the said offenses. Hence, before I pass the sentences, I will ask you individually whether you have anything to say in mitigation.
The court clerk stood up and went near the dock.
“Mr. Onesmus Omondi, do you have anything to say in mitigation?”
“Yes your Honour. I am begging this court to be lenient and give me a soft sentence. I am very sorry for what I did and will never repeat the same thing again. I have many dependants, A wife, some children and an ailing mother. They have no other source of
income and consequently rely on me fully for their maintenance.” Omondi said.
“Is that all?” Mr. Bowman asked disinterestedly.
“That’s all your Honour.” He replied meekly.
“I will ensure that you will never repeat the same again. But before that, I will remind you one thing. :That even those you killed had themselves many dependants. This court has found you guilty of all the counts, that is of murder, robbery with violence and rape. In that case, I will give you the maximum penalty the likes of you deserve And that is death. I therefore sentence you to be hanged by the rope until a qualified doctor, certifies that you are clinically dead. You can appeal within fourteen days from now if you find it necessary. That’s all.”
”Mr.Pius Chege.” The court clerk called. “Do you have anything to tell this court in mitigation?”
“Ye… Ye… Yes your Honour… I do” Everything he had planned to say had dissipated from his head the moments he had heard his friends sentence. “Please your Honour. I don’t want to die. Better give me one hundred years but spare my life.”
“Do you have anything else?” Justice Bowman asked him.
“No… No… No… But…”
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