- In sentencing them, trial Judge Roselyne Korir considered that each persisted in their innocence and prayed for leniency with a non-custodial sentence.
- The Judge was persuaded that each accused outside of this case were good people and deserving of a second chance.
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Former Venezuelan first secretary Dwight Sagaray and three others have been sentenced to a cumulative 80 years in prison for the murder of the late envoy Olga Fonseca.
Each of the accused will serve 20 years behind bars.
In sentencing them, trial judge Roselyne Korir considered that each persisted in their innocence and prayed for leniency with a non-custodial sentence.
The judge was persuaded that each accused outside of this case were good people and deserving of a second chance.
However, the offence committed she said was serious and called for a custodial sentence.
"I have considered the trial has taken an unduly long period and the accused persons must have undergone mental anguish during the pendency of trial," Korir said.
The judge said though the accused persons were out on bond their liberty was curtailed.
During mitigation, Dwight 45, said if runaway suspect Mohamed would be arrested, he would be vindicated.
He pleaded for mercy and leniency.
He is single and has no children but he maintained good relations with his family.
Though since the trial began, Dwight said the separation from his family took a turn on him.
He lamented over how his government treated him and how he was still tried yet his diplomatic status was still intact.
Fonsescas's family however asked the court to sentence the convicts as per the Kenyan law. They also asked the Kenyan government to consider compensating their family as they regret losing her life.
The other three convicts, Ahmed Omido, Alex Sifuma and Moses Kiprotich had also prayed for leniency and a non-custodial sentence.
Dwight was in 2012 arraigned at the Milimani Law Court and charged with the murder of Fonseca.
He was charged alongside Ahmed Omindo, Alex Sifuma, Moses Kiprotich and Kirui Chelogoi. Another suspect Mohamed Ahmed Hassan was never captured and warrants of his arrest remain unexecuted to date.
Fonseca was found murdered in her Runda residence in Nairobi.
She was strangled to death on July 26, 2012, less than two weeks after arriving in Kenya to head the diplomatic mission.
She replaced former ambassador Gerardo Silva who was facing allegations of sexual harassment by male workers from the embassy.
Olga's body was found lying on her bed with a wire cord around her neck, hands and legs.
In convicting them in early January this year, Judge Korir said the state had proved their case against the accused persons apart from Chelogoi who was acquitted.
The prosecution presented an array of witnesses, 37 in total and produced 39 exhibits that were used to pin down the four.
Korir said the evidence produced in court by the prosecution demonstrated there was an outright conflict between Olga and Dwight.
That glaring conflict provided the motive to eliminate Olga.
The court was able to deduce the hostile and acrimonious relationship between the two through the evidence of the embassy staff.
"I have found their evidence to be credible. They narrated what they saw and experienced. They have no interest in siding with either party," the Judge said.