Court gavel./FILE
A 31-year-old man who threatened to kill his lover for allegedly refusing to terminate a pregnancy has been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment by a Kabarnet court.
Senior Principal Magistrate Purity Koskey, while passing sentence, handed the accused a three-year jail term for each offence with the sentence running concurrently.
Koskey, who ordered the accused to serve his jail term at Kabarnet GK prison, however, reminded the convict of his right to appeal within 14 days if dissatisfied with the judgement.
The man was charged that on diverse dates between November 2025 and January 1, 2026, at Kotoroni village in Tiaty Central sub-county; he wilfully and unlawfully assaulted his lover.
The accused pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing bodily harm contrary to section 251 of the penal code.
He was also charged with threatening to kill contrary to section 223(1) of the penal code.
The victim, in her touching testimony, told the court that she was a widow living with her children, and the accused used to visit her home after the death of her husband.
She stated that in November 2025 hell broke loose when the accused beat her seriously, while threatening to kill her if she refused to terminate the pregnancy, claiming he did not want a child.
The court further heard that the accused had categorically stated: “I will stab you until the baby comes out if you don’t heed my demand.”
The widow, who said they have been friends with the man for four years, informed the court that on January 1, 2026, the accused, in a fury, took a stick (bakora) and hit her on the hand, fracturing it.
“After being attacked, I went to Chemolingot Sub County Hospital for treatment and later reported the accused at Chemolingot Police Station," she narrated.
The victim’s daughter in her testimony told the court that the accused had a habit of assaulting her mother while issuing threats.
A razor-sharp knife used during the attack by the man said to be arrogant and harsh was produced in court as an exhibit.
A duly filed P3 form presented in court showed that the victim was examined on January 4 at Chemolingot sub-county hospital after being referred from the police station.
The report further showed a wound on the left lower limb and multiple bodily injuries, while her left upper limb had a slight deformity.
The magistrate in her ruling found Lotitipo guilty of the charges of assault and threatening to kill and accordingly convicted him under section 215 of the criminal procedure code.
“These cases of GBV have been on the rise lately. It is the duty of the court to send a message to the public that there are other ways of solving disputes other than violence,” Koskey stated.
In mitigation, the man pleaded with the magistrate to consider giving him a non-custodial sentence to enable him to take care of his young and needy family.
The Senior Principal Magistrate also directed that the time spent in custody be deducted from the sentence.
