41 Shakahola survivors will now be charged alongside suspected cult leader Paul Mackenzie with murder, manslaughter and other terror-related charges.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jami Yamina told Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido that investigations have established that 41 out of the 65 people have a hand in the mysterious deaths of children at the Shakahola massacre.
Jami stated that it has been established that the 41 are either parents or grandparents of the missing children believed to be dead.
The court heard that the 41 left their homes for Shakahola in the company of children between one to 14 years old whom they failed to establish their whereabouts.
So far, 40 children of tender ages cannot be accounted for.
“The 64 are being investigated over murder or manslaughter, attempted suicide, cruelty and negligent against children, failing to take children to school and failing to provide necessities without lawful excuse alongside radicalization,” he said.
The court heard that the 28 women and 13 men were adherents of Good News International Church associated with pastor Makenzie.
The investigators also unmasked that most of them used false names to identify themselves and have continued to frustrate the detectives’ efforts to gather crucial evidence on the whereabouts of their children.
Jami filed an application seeking that the group, who are part of the 64 survivors of the Shakahola massacre, be separated from the remaining victims and detained at Shimo la Tewa prison.
He argued that their characterisation has changed from victims to suspects following intense investigations.
Shakahola survivors to be detained
Omido ordered that the 41 detained at Shimo la Tewa male and female prisons and presented in court Tuesday for further directions
The magistrate stated that the investigators’ apprehension that the 41 could escape is valid having known they are now faced with serious criminal offences.
The court will rule Tuesday on Jami’s application to withdraw an attempted suicide charge earlier pressed against the 41.
However, the attempted suicide charge will remain for the 24 victims until further investigations.
The 24 will continue to be held at Sahajanad Rescue Centre and undergo counselling among other treatments.
