KIKUYU BEATEN TO DEATH

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27591, 23 February 1955, Page 13

KIKUYU BEATEN TO DEATH

Interrogator Guilty Of Manslaughter NAIROBI, February 21. Five African Home Guards were acquitted today of murdering a Mau Mau suspect by beating him to death. A sixth man, Robert M’lbere, assistant supervisor of a Methodist mission and a former headmaster, who was similarly charged, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour for manslaughter. Mr Justice Connell said that M’lbere’s job at an interrogation centre was to record confessions by people who had taken the Mau Mau oath. “He was just as essential a part of the beating up system as any of the beaters,” said the judge. “Each prisoner was asked to confess by M’lbere. Each was brought before him. Each was then beaten in his presence and their statements were then recorded by him.” His Honour described the chief prosecution witness. Corporal M’Mucdia, as “clearly an accomplice.” Discharging five Home Guards— M’lgeta, M’ltiri, M’Marimba, M’Mbirithi and M’Muguchia—his Honour said: “It is impossible to assume that they all took part in the beating.”