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The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has applied for an extension of custody for controversial Shakahola cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his 27 co-accused persons for another 180 days.
Before Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda, Assistant DPP Jami Yamina said despite their confinement of Mackenzie for over five months, the police have not concluded their investigation into the deaths of over 429 in the Shakahola forest.
Mackenzie and his co-accused are facing about 12 charges, including terrorism, murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalization, and genocide, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud, and money laundering.
Yamina further informed the Shanzu Magistrate Court that the police still require additional time to complete their investigations.
“We are now filing a new application requesting a 180-day extension, which is six months, to allow the police to conclude the investigations,” he said.
The application supported by an affidavit of Chief Inspector Raphael Wanjohi reveals that DNA profiling of 429 bodies exhumed from the Shakahola forest is delicate, costly, laborious and time consuming.
It further added that of the bodies, 360 are severely decomposed, hence requiring extraction of DNA material from cells in the skeleton and bones of the corpses.
The application further discloses that pathologists require at least an additional 6 months to conduct the DNA profiling process to conclusively establish the true identity of the exhumed bodies.
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Nick Makuu, Assistant Director of Probation Aftercare Services, informed the court that they would need at least 30 days to complete the Social Inquiry report for each of the suspects held with Mackenzie.
He noted that some of the suspects had been uncooperative and refused to speak to probation officers without their legal counsel’s direction.
Mackenzie’s legal counsel, Wycliff Makasembo requested a two-week extension to review the new application and file responses. He mentioned that he had been a victim of a mugging incident on Sunday night, which left him with injuries.
Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda allowed Makasembo two weeks to seek medical assistance and respond to the new application.
He also directed the probation office to use the next three weeks to finish their social inquiry reports on Mackenzie and his associates.
The next mention of this new application is scheduled for October 12.
Mackenzi and His co-accused are carried on the back on their way to court #mombasa – YouTube