British man charged with running over, killing wife in Malindi freed on Ksh.300K cash bail

Simon Harold Shiels, a British man accused of running over and killing his wife in Malindi in 2018, has been released on bail.

After pleading not guilty to the murder charge, Malindi High Court Justice Stephen Githinji ruled that Shiels should clear a Ksh.500,000 bond and a surety of the same amount or a cash bail of Ksh.300,000 to earn his freedom.

The prosecution had initially sought to have the accused denied bail on grounds that he was a flight risk and that he could influence key witnesses in the case, but the prayer was dismissed.

“The prosecution, in my view, has failed to file a compelling reason which would entitle to this court to deny the accused bail or bond. I will admit him to bond or bail,” ruled Justice Githinji.

“He may be released on a bond of Ksh.0.5 million and a surety of the same amount or a cash bail of Ksh. 300,000.”

Shiels will likewise be required to deposit his passport with the court; the case was set for mentioning on October 19, 2022.

The Brit was arrested by Malindi police on Sunday for the suspected murder of his wife Jacinta Njoki who perished in a road accident on the Thalathameli-Kaoyeni road in Ganda, Kilifi County.

Court documents show that a fierce property battle between Shiels, Njoki’s ex-husband Amos Okoth Oluoch and his children ensued shortly after her death.

The accused was arrested following a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to take over the case.