Single-mum 'extremely sorry' for killing grandmother

Mercyline Khakori, alias Sylvia Khatanga, 25, was sentenced to three years probation for murdering her grandmother in a domestic dispute. Khakori, a mother of two, was initially charged with murder but agreed to a plea deal with the prosecution in order to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Judge Patrick Otieno said the court considered her circumstances as a single mother of a three-year-old child. He also said the youngster was a victim of circumstance and would be denied parental care and attention if her mother was imprisoned.

"In addition, the accused entered into a plea bargain, which served to shorten the time spent dispensing justice. As a result, I sentence her to three years probation under the supervision of the county director of probation or any other officer designated by the director," said Judge Otieno.

Earlier, the court considered the single mother's guilty plea and requested a pre-sentencing report to determine the appropriate sentence. The report stated that Khakori was a mother to a child aged three years and whose father was unknown. 

The grandmother became enraged and struck Khakori with her walking stick. Khakori shoved her aside in response, and she fell, bled, and was subsequently pronounced dead.

The accused's attitude towards the crime was described as "extremely" sorry.