The High Court Thursday deferred plea taking of police constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa pending mental assessment over the killing of hawker Boniface Kariuki.
He will now plead to the charge on July 28.
This is after the prosecution counsel made an application to court, seeking 14 days to have Barasa undergo a mental assessment before plea taking.
Justice Kanyi Kimondo in his ruling, directed the accused to be taken to Mbagathi hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital or any convenient government facility for mental assessment.
“You shall now be removed from police custody and you shall be remanded at the Nairobi remand,” said the judge.
According to the Prosecution, Barasa on June 17, outside Imenti House in Nairobi central business district, murdered Boniface Kariuki.
The magistrate court had earlier set free Dancun Kiprono another police officer who was in custody for 21 days pending investigations.
Senior principal magistrate Benmark Ikhubi was told that the prosecution had preferred charges against Klinzy Barasa.
The DCI in a miscellaneous application had moved to court seeking custodial days to hold Barasa and Kiprono pending investigations into the murder of Kariuki.
Barasa in a viral video was seen shooting an unarmed mask vendor, Kariuki at close range as the vendor attempted to walk away.
He was arrested on June 18, together with Kiprono
Kariuki, the mask vendor was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
He was declared brain dead on June 29 and died on the following day.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved a murder charge against the officer.
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