A court in Meru has sentenced a woman to 15 years in prison for chopping off her husband’s genitals.
The Maua magistrate’s court found the mother of five guilty of the attempted murder of her husband by chopping off his genitals.
Chief Magistrate Tito Gesora said the prosecution had proven its case beyond doubt that the woman intended to kill her husband when she attacked him.
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The offence was committed on November 19, 2021, in Igembe North.
According to court papers,Esther Kario attacked her husband as he slept.
She wanted to kill her husband for refusing to sub-divide his miraa farm.
The woman hit the man with a panga striking his head and limb.
She then grabbed a kitchen knife and cut off a part of his testicles.
The 60-year-old miraa farmer slipped into unconsciousness.
The woman then attempted to force an unidentified chemical down his throat, the court was told.
Their daughter, who was woken up by the commotion, started screaming, but her mother hit her and ordered her to shut up.
A neighbour, stormed the house, disarmed the woman and rescued the man.
The woman then attempted to escape but villagers caught her and wanted to lynch her.
She was rescued by the chief, who took her to Laare police station.
The couple’s child told the court how she called for help, leading to her father’s rescue, and subsequent admission to Chaaria Mission hospital.
sickness prompted chopping
In her defence, the woman said the attack was unintentional and blamed it on a mental illness she suffers from.
She told the court that she was not aware of what she had done, only finding herself in police custody, where she was told she had attacked her husband.
Medical records indicated that she had been on treatment for schizophrenia since March 2021, but had recovered.
The magistrate however noted that she was fit to stand trial at the time.
“The actions by the accused are not spontaneous as would be expected in a situation where one falls into an episode over which they have no control.
“I am convinced that there was malice aforethought and that she chose a time to do it”,the court ruled.
“She may have been sick before, but I am convinced now beyond doubt that it was not to such an extent as to make her lose all conscience, and she cannot, therefore, benefit from the exclusion under the penal code.
“I find the accused guilty as charged and accordingly convict her,” said the Magistrate.
The victim, who was in court, praised the judgment, saying he was happy “justice had been served”.
He said he did not understand why his wife of 27 years had exerted such cruelty on him.
