The High court will today hear a case in which Eastleigh-based crime buster Ahmed Rashid is challenging his prosecution. 

Rashid is to be charged with murder.

Last month, Rashid through his lawyers told the court that he was not on the run.

This is after he joined the virtual court from Garissa county and not Nairobi as the prosecution expected.

When asked why he was in Garissa and not Nairobi, Rashid told Justice Kanyi Kimondo that he went to deal with a family issue and was not on the run.

The matter was coming up in court for plea-taking after it was adjourned in December when the court was told that Rashid was admitted to hospital.

State counsel Wangui Gichuhi said they were ready to take a plea but Rashid had not undergone mental assessment as is required by law.

She also said that the suspect was in Garissa, which was far from Nairobi and he was not in a police station.

Justice Kimondo then ordered Rashid to surrender himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers in Garissa Township.

He shall then be escorted to Nairobi to take a psychiatric examination. However, the court warned him that in default of doing that, a warrant of arrest shall be issued.

“For the avoidance doubt, if the suspect voluntarily surrenders himself as ordered above, and proceeds for the psychiatric examination as ordered, the police will be at liberty to release him on bond on terms to be determined by the officer commanding station,” the judge ruled.

However, the judge said Rashid shall be at the hands of the police at the time of plea which will also be taken virtually.

Also in courts, seven people accused who were put on their defence for allegedly violently robbing former Kabete MP George Muchai, his two bodyguards and a driver have asked the court to release them on bail.

In January, trial magistrate Roseline Oganyo put them on their defence after analysing evidence adduced by 36 witnesses.

She found that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against all the accused persons.

The accused persons are namely Erick Isabwa, alias chairman, Raphael Gachii, alias Kim Butcher, Kimani Anyonyi, alias Musto, Stephen Lipapo, alias Chokora, Jane Wanjiru, alias Shiro, and Margaret Wachuiri and Simon.

"I accordingly put all of them on their defence," said the magistrate.

The seven have denied nine counts of violent robbery.

They are separately charged at the High Court with the murder of Muchai, his two bodyguards Samuel Kalikia and Samuel Matanta, and driver Stephen Wambugu on the night of February 6 and 7,2015 on Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi.

They are further accused of robbing Michael Gituto of a vehicle and other personal property all worth Sh416,000