Erick Mutinda Philip, accused of killing ex-girlfriend in court. Mental health report indicates that the suspect is unfit to hold office. Photo: ODPP X.
Eric Mutinda a student of Multimedia University charged with murder of alleged girlfriend Sylvia Kemunto, a firts year student has been declared unfit to stand trial after mental assessment report.
The report Criminal Case No: E004 of 2025 from Mathare National Teaching and Rereferral Hospital stated that the suspect is mentally unstable after undergoing tests.
“He is not fit to plead and recommended further corroborative history from his next of kin to complete the evaluation,” the doctor’s report noted.
According to the report, Mutinda who was accompanied by a relative during the test denied the allegations of being involved in the murder case, but confessed of being charged with murder. The psychiatrist further noted that the suspect was fairly groomed and cooperated with ease, but his low speech in tone and pitch, along with his history was considered unreliable.
However, appearing before the court on mention, the Judge directed that the Prisons Department to take him back to the Hospital for a re-evaluation, in company of a family member.
Appearing before the court earlier, the suspect had pleaded not guilty, before going for the mental evaluation, a plea that made the court to order for his psychiatric assessment.
As the Court awaits an updated mental health assessment from Mathare National Teaching and Referral Hospital, the case is set to be mentioned on June, Friday 27.
Mutinda is alleged to have killed Kemunto in her room, before her body was recovered dumped at the university’s water tank n April 2, when reports of her disappearance was reported on March 30. Kemunto was a mass communication and computer science student, while the suspect Mutinda, also a first year student in the engineering department.
The post-mortem report confirmed that the deceased died as a result of asphyxia, due to ligature strangulation, as well as head injuries resulting from blunt force trauma.
