Principal magistrate Anthony Mwichigi released the suspect Stephen Mwangi, putting him on a two years probation.
This comes a few days after the prosecution conducted an exhumation exercise in the suspect’s home in search of his wife Christine Ruguru’s body.
The exercise that was led by DCIO Japheth Maingi and public health officers saw police officers dig out a pit latrine and two other locations in the home before calling it off after failing to find the body.
While giving the judgment, the magistrate said the prosecution had failed to find the body of the victim in the place it had claimed the suspect had buried it.
He however asked the investigating officer to continue with investigations into the disappearance of Ruguru who went missing two years ago.
Mwichigi ordered the suspect to be reporting to Murang’a police station every two weeks until his probation period is over.
The suspect was arraigned in court two weeks ago charged with murdering his wife after it was reported that he was heard bragging about killing her and dumping her body in a toilet while he was drunk.
The victim disappeared after the two had a disagreement and separated for a period of 6 months during which Ruguru started a relationship with another man.
Neighbours however claim that Mwangi followed Ruguru to her maternal home in a bid to repair their broken marriage and ended up killing her.
Ruguru’s mother said her daughter had grown tired of their turbulent marriage and had plans to make their separation official in the chief’s office.
She however noted that Mwangi was unable to move on even after learning that she was in another relationship.
Ruguru who was speaking during the exhumation exercise pleaded with the police to help trace her daughter’s body to give her closure.
Ruguru was a mother of three children who now live with their grandparents.
-Alice Waithera