- State Counsel Emma Okok had informed the court that a pre-bail probation report had been filed before the court as earlier directed by the judge.
- The probation report will help to determine if the suspect can be released on bail or not.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
The High Court in Eldoret will next month rule on the bail application by Ibrahim Rotich who is the prime suspect in the murder of athlete Agnes Tirop.
Justice Robert Wananda said he would rule on the matter on November 16 when the murder case will also be coming up for hearing.
Rotich through his lawyer Ngige Ngugi made a second application seeking to be released on bail pending the hearing of the murder case.
"I will rule on the bail application on November 16th when the case will be coming up for hearing," Wananda said.
State Counsel Emma Okok had informed the court that a pre-bail probation report had been filed before the court as earlier directed by the judge.
The probation report will help to determine if the suspect can be released on bail or not.
Rotich has in the past been denied bail on grounds of his safety and the prosecution had insisted that he was also a flight risk.
The Judge had two months ago ordered probation officers to prepare another pre-bail report to help the court determine whether the suspect would be released on bond or remand in remand.
Rotich through his lawyer has pleaded with the court to consider his application to be released on bond.
He has been in remand prison since his arrest more than two years ago.
The suspect allegedly killed Tirop on October 13, 2021, at Ruralestate on the outskirts of Iten town, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Rotich pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
The prosecution had told the court that after the killing Rotich went missing but was arrested in Changamwe, Mombasa, several days after the body of the celebrated runner was discovered in her house.
Rotich was dealt a major blow during his previous attempts to be released on bond after the then-presiding Judge, Justice Reuben Nyakundi declined his request on the ground that the suspect’s conduct had given the court doubts over his cooperation in the case.
"Bearing in mind that the matter before us is associated with gender-based violence and your conduct as the accused person has made this court doubt if released on bond you will be available during the proceedings," Justice Nyakundi had ruled.
"Even personal circumstances and steps you took after the incident have made this court ask so many questions about your availability if released on bond."
Later Justice Wananda took over hearing of the murder case.
Tirop, who is a former World Cross-Country champion, was killed just a few days after arriving back in the country from a race, and her body was found in the bedroom of her house.