- Biwott has denied killing her husband, Victor Kipchumba, on the night of October 14, 2023, at Kimumu estate in Eldoret.
- The couple had quarreled for over an hour before Biwott allegedly opened fire, killing the husband in their bedroom.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
The High Court in Eldoret has ruled that policewoman Lilian Biwott has a case to answer over the murder of her husband whom she shot 12 times last year.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi rejected an application by Biwott to be released on bond and directed that she defends herself on August 30, 2024.
Nyakundi said although her lawyer had put up a strong case for bond, it was proper that the accused takes to the dock to defend herself over the murder charges so that the case is concluded.
“You remain innocent until proven guilty but for now I respect your application for bond and direct that you work on your defence,” Justice Nyakundi said.
Nyakundi put Biwott on her defence after hearing evidence from eight witnesses since the case started.
She has denied killing her husband, Victor Kipchumba, on the night of October 14, 2023, at Kimumu estate in Eldoret.
A witness had earlier told the court that she quarreled with the deceased after he threatened to kill their children on the fateful day.
The couple had quarreled for over an hour before Biwott allegedly opened fire, killing the husband in their bedroom.
Their househelp, Sharon Jepchirchir, who is a key witness, narrated how the two quarreled on the phone before Biwott came back to the house on the fateful night.
Kipchumba was in their house at Kimumu estate while Biwott was on night duty.
Jepchirchir said she was sleeping in an adjacent room where she could overhear the couple quarreling on the phone.
"After a while, Biwott came back and asked me to open the door for her. She was in full uniform and had a gun," Jepchirchir testified.
She said Biwott then went into their bedroom while she went back to her room from where she heard the two quarrel again for more than an hour.
"After about one hour, I heard a loud bang in their room and went to check only to find Biwott going out. I followed her out, but she went away," Jepchirchir told court.
While being cross-examined by lawyer Oscar Oduor for Biwott, the househelp said during the quarrel, she heard the man saying in anger that he would kill their children.
She revealed that the couple frequently quarreled, and the man was used to walking around with kitchen knives in the house.
At the same time, Jepchirchir also told the court that Kipchumba used to seduce her and would even invite her to their bedroom at night when Biwott was away.
"He would on some days call me on my phone and ask me to go to their bedroom when Biwott was away at night," Jepchirchir said.
She said that she informed Biwott about the same sparking more quarrels between the couple.
Jepchirchir told the court that Biwott had been a good employer to her and was always generous.
She had worked with the couple for over six months before the killing.