A 36-year-old woman, Vernicia Ruguru, who was found guilty of bathing her husband with acid has been sentenced to life imprisonment by an Embu Magistrate Court.
It will be recalled that Ruguru had, on 16 July, poured acid on her husband, Patrick Njue, in Embu North, Kenya, in self-defense. Ruguru had claimed that after her husband attempted to splash the acid on her, she overpowered him and poured it on him.
The claim was however dismissed by the Principal Magistrate, Robinson Oigara, affirming that she would have sustained some injuries if that was the case.
Reports showed that on the day of the incident, the defendant was said to have prepared the children for school, completed her house chores then later walked into their bedroom where her husband was.
Njue reportedly noted that his wife had walked directly to the bed and splashed acid on him. She then locked the door and escaped only for the neighbours to hear screams from the house and came to his rescue.
According to evidence presented in court, on hearing that her husband was still alive, Ruguru rushed to the hospital where Njue was admitted, in an attempt to finish her mission, but was later arrested.
The court which sentenced her to life imprisonment, however granted her 14 days to appeal the judgment. [myad]
