Esther Arunga charged with being an accessory to son's murder

Thursday, September 11, 2014

 

This file photo shows former KTN presenter Esther Arunga during a media briefing at the Pizza Garden restaurant . She has been charged with being an accessory to her son's murder. PHOTO| HEZRON NJOROGE  

In Summary

• According to the Brisbane Times website, lawyer Chris Ford, who represents the couple in their separate legal cases, said Ms Arunga intends to fight the charges.
• "We'll be seeking bail as soon as is practicable," he said.
• Local TV channel — Channel 7 — reported on June 18 that the child died as paramedics, who had been called in, were attending to him.

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI
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Esther Arunga was on Thursday charged with being an accessory to her son’s murder, nine days after her husband, Quincy Timberlake, was charged with murder.

Detectives from the Pine Rivers Child Protection and Investigation Unit charged Esther with the crime following police investigations into the death.

According to the Brisbane Times website, criminal lawyer Chris Ford, who represents the couple in their separate legal cases, said Ms Arunga intends to fight the charges.

"We'll be seeking bail as soon as is practicable," he said.

READ:Shock as police say Esther Arunga son death not accident

An officer from the child protection unit who spoke to Nation.co.ke by phone said the information published by the Brisbane Times was accurate and that it originated from the unit office.

Police were called to the couple’s house in Kallangur, a suburb in north Brisbane, Australia, about 2.30am on June 18 after ambulance officers were unable to resuscitate the boy.

CHILD DIED AS HE WAS BEING ATTENDED TO

Local TV channel — Channel 7 — reported on June 18 that the child died as paramedics, who had been called in, were attending to him.

“The parents told the police that the child had been playing with his two-year-old brother when he fell down the stairs,” the channel reported then.

After the incident, it stated, the parents gave him Panadol, a painkiller, and put him to sleep, but his condition worsened.

The couple then called paramedics, who pronounced the boy dead.

“Police will allege the child had 'significant' internal injuries,” stated TheCourierMail.com.

GRANTED ASYLUM

Mr Timberlake was granted asylum in Australia and left Kenya to “save” his life after being arrested and tortured while in custody on charges that were later dropped.

Four years ago, his wife, Ms Arunga, sued her parents, Dr Robert Arunga and Mrs Petroline Arunga, claiming they had locked her in their house and subjected her to forceful psychiatric check-up.

She declared she was married to Quincy Timberlake, who was in police custody at that time.

She demanded Sh300 million in damages from her parents.