Hannah Wanjiku Gitwiria, the wife of the late Lawyer Willie Kimani, on Friday, February 10, declined an apology from murder convict Fredrick Leliman’s father, Stephen Leliman, over the gruesome murder of her husband.
While appearing on Citizen TV, Willie Kimani’s wife and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri’s sister rejected the plea for forgiveness by the convicted felons’ families.
The duo was not impressed by the apology offered noting that it showed that the original perpetrators were not remorseful of their actions.
“The family of Kimani lost a brother while I lost a husband yet all along, they refused to admit their mistake until the judgement day. I reject that apology,” Hannah stated.
On her part, taxi driver Joseph Muiruri’s sister wondered why the family of Leliman was coming out to admit the actions of their son yet the offender has never acknowledged his criminal acts.
“What is the point of asking for an apology when the person who killed my brother has never accepted the fact that he is the one who killed the three victims?” She posed.
The victims’ relatives recounted the depressing circumstances through which their families had to endure following the brutal murder of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josphat Mwenda and their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri in 2016.
Responding to the judgment made on Friday, February 3, 2023, Stephen told the victims’ relatives to forgive his son and his family for the murder. Fredrick was sentenced to death,
“I was very much shocked when I hear what my son had done because growing up, he never did anything bad to anyone. I simply never expected him to do such a thing in his entire life,” Leliman’s father expressed his remorse.
Stephen noted that he does not, in any way, want to contradict the judgment of Justice Jessie Lessit hence asking for forgiveness from the victims’ families.
“I can’t say much because I do not have the strength. Let me leave it to God who knows what happened on the fateful night. All I can do is apologise to the victims and their relatives.
“I would also like to apologise to Kenyans and ask well-wishers to help this young man appeal his case at the Court of Appeal,” he added.
Leliman’s mother, Eunice Leliman, on the other hand, advocated for her son’s honesty explaining that he took up his responsibilities seriously.
Eunice also called on the government to review its death verdict and rescue his son from the hangman’s noose.
“My child was kind. I ask the court to release him,” Leliman’s mother pleaded.
Justice Jessie Lessit sentenced Fredrick Leliman (first accused) to death, Stephen Cheburet, the second accused, (30 years in prison), Sylvia Wanjiku, the third accused (24 years in prison), and Peter Ngugi, the fifth accused (20 years in prison) for the murder of the human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and their driver.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE