19 Year-Old Sentenced To 7 Years In jail And Further 3 Years Of Probation After killing Step-Brother

SIAYA,Kenya, Oct, 21 – Appearing before Siaya justice Roselyn Aburili, 19 year old Paul Ochieng’ will now spend 7 years in jail after he was found guilty of murdering his step-brother following an altercation over a marital dispute.

Ochieng’ is accused of engaging in an illicit marital affair with his deceased step brother’s wife – A matter that angered him initially resulting into a full blown fight between the two.

According to court documents the incident occurred on May 15, 2021 in Nyamila sub-location North Alego Location in Siaya Sub County.

In her ruling, justice Aburili revealed that the accused’s charge was reduced from murder to manslaughter following a plea bargain deal.

“Taking into account the circumstances surrounding the commission of this offence and the age of the accused and mitigation and objectives of sentencing, I hereby sentence the accused person Paul Ochieng Owino to serve seven (7) years imprisonment,” she added.

As part of the ruling, the accused will after serving his 7 year jail term proceed on a 3 year probation, “as part of his rehabilitation progam,” said Justice Aburili.

“The accused is a first offender and a young man aged only 19 years. His main mistake, giving rise to this case is that he had an illicit love affair with his late brother’s wife and hence when the brother found out, he attacked the accused and in the process the accused killed his brother,” said Aburili.

Ochieng’ was facing the possibility of life in prison – The sentence however came as a reprieve to him with the court citing his young age and circumstances of the case for the somehow lenient sentencing.

According to preliminary reports, the accused is said to have stabbed the deceased with a sharp object following an altercation – Boaz Oduor, the deceased, is also said to have set the house of the accused on fire, in an tempt to lure him out.

Following the injuries inflicted on the deceased during the fight, he is said to have did on the spot.

A post-mortem report established that the deceased died due to cardiac arrest caused by the sharp chest trauma.