Former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier Peter Mugure has been sentenced to life imprisonment after the High Court found him guilty of murdering his wife and two children.
Addressing the court during his sentencing on July 14, Peter Mugure said he will appeal his conviction for the murder of his wife and two children, despite accepting the High Court’s authority to sentence him.
Mugure told Justice Martin Muya that while he respected the court’s decision, he fundamentally disagreed with the verdict that found him guilty on all three murder counts.
He said he had instructed his lawyers not to challenge the sentence that the court would impose but instead to focus solely on appealing the convictions
“I respect that decision of the court, for it presently legally binds me in ways no one can possibly imagine. Nevertheless, and with tremendous respect to the court, in principle I am unable to agree with the verdict. It is for that reason that I have instructed my advocates not to challenge the legality or severity of whatever sentence you deem fit to impose on me, but to challenge only the convictions,” Mugure told the court.
Peter Mugure After High Court Hands Him Life Sentence
Justice Muya, who delivered the sentence on Tuesday, described the offence as “barbaric”, saying the seriousness of the crime warranted the maximum sentence.
“I find that the acts committed were barbaric. Bearing in mind that the accused has been in custody, I sentence him to life imprisonment,” the judge said.
The judge informed Mugure that he had a right of appeal and would have 14 days after sentencing to lodge it.
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How the Case Begun
The life sentence followed Mugure’s conviction for the murders of his wife, Joyce Syombua Maua, 31, his 10-year-old daughter, Shanice Mugure Mwaura, also known as Shanice Maua, and his five-year-old son, Peter Mwaura Junior, alias Prince Michael.
During sentencing, the prosecution sought the death penalty, arguing that the murders were particularly grave because the victims were Mugure’s immediate family members.
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Justice Martin Muya, however, imposed a life sentence after considering the victim impact assessment report, the circumstances of the case and the period Mugure had spent in custody awaiting the conclusion of the trial.
While the court took into account the mitigating factors presented by the defence, it found that they were outweighed by the gravity of the offences, leading to the imposition of a life sentence.
The case dates back to October 2019, when Joyce Syombua Maua and her two children were reported missing.
Investigations later led to the discovery of their bodies, with prosecutors alleging that they had been killed at the Laikipia Airbase in Nanyuki. Mugure was subsequently charged with the murders of his wife and the two children.
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