The Eldoret magistrate’s court on January 31, 2024, has denied bond to the two suspects, David Ekhai Lokere, alias (25), and Peter Ushuru Khalumi (30), who are suspected to have murdered Kenyan-born Ugandan athlete Edward Benjamin Kiplagat.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) objected to the release on bond of the two men charged with killing the Ugandan 3,000-meter steeplechase runner, arguing that the duo had a criminal record and posed a flight risk.
State Counsel Anthony Fedha told the Eldoret Court that the state will serve the defense with the application to deny David Ekhai Lokere and Peter Ushuru Khalumi bond before hearing the application and determination.
According to Fedha, “we have a strong application to deny the duo bond. However, we request that the court allow us time to finalize the application and serve the counsel for the accused’’.
He added that the state would serve the defense with an application upon receiving a pre-bail report from probation officers.
Fedha requested the Court issue an order to probation officers to prepare a pre-bail report. The court then directed the probation officers to prepare the report before ODPP served the defense with the said application.
Justice Wananda set the hearing of the bond application for February 15, 2024. The court further directed a full trial of the case to commence on March 7, 2024.
Kiplagat won silver in the 3,000-meter steeple at the 2008 World Junior Championship and a bronze medal at the 2012 Africa Championship. Throughout his career, he represented Uganda in various prestigious competitions, including six World Athletics Championships and three Olympic cycles.
The 34-year-old Kiplagat was found dead with a knife wound to his neck on December 31, 2023, in western Kenya.
