The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has recovered the vehicle used in the murder of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper.
In an update on Saturday, January 27, 2024, the detectives said that the vehicle, a silver Toyota Premio registration number KCR 742N was recovered in Kithoku, Meru County.
Detectives noted that the car was used to abduct the late blogger and later used to dispose his body at Mutonga River in Chiakariga, Tharaka Nithi County on December 2, 2023.
“The identification and subsequent recovery of the vehicle, a silver Toyota Premio registration number KCR 742N followed thorough forensic analysis of crucial leads, which pointed to a residential place at Canopy area of Kithoka, Meru county,” DCI noted.
According to DCI, the car was hired and driven by Vincent Mureithi Kirimi alias Supuu on the date of the abduction and gruesome murder of Sniper.
Authorities say there were three other occupants in the car including Brian Mwenda, Christus Manyara Kiambi and Boniface Kithinji Njihia alias DJ Kaboom. Brian and Boniface are in police custody.
The matter remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, the court granted 21 days to continue detaining three suspects linked to the murder of Sniper pending probe.
Kibera Senior Resident Magistrate William Lokopoiyot on Monday, January 8, 2024, ordered that the trio namely Boniface Githinji alias Kaboom, Brian Mwenda alias Brayo Grace Kathambi Kithunji be detained at Kilimani police station pending completion of investigations.
“I find that the police have made out a case to warrant the suspects be held in custody pending investigations. I hereby order the three suspects to be held in police cells for 21 days,” Magistrate Lokopoiyot ordered.
A post-mortem examination conducted on the body of the deceased at the Marimanti Level 4 Hospital mortuary in Tharaka Nithi, Meru County, revealed that he died of strangulation.
Government pathologist Johansen Oduor, who conducted the examination, said Sniper had marks on his neck and exhibited signs of a person who had lacked oxygen.
He also had fractured ribs and showed injuries.
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