A man who stabbed his wife 23 times before licking the blood-stained kitchen knife was on Monday sentenced to death.
Bernard Mwenga was found guilty of killing Catherine Mbete, his wife of nine years, over a mobile phone.
“This court holds that the accused had the intention to kill the
deceased. This case is the worst form of domestic violence. A human life
was needlessly lost,” High Court judge Luka Kimaru said.
Mwenga and Mbete had a rocky relationship, which saw her frequently leave her marital home to seek refuge from relatives.
Three days before her death, Mwenga reportedly attacked his wife, leaving her with a swollen face.
The father of three is said to have committed the crime on October 28, 2007, at Mlolongo market, after he picked a fight with his wife at her workplace.
Mwenga was unhappy with Mbete, who worked as a beautician, for receiving frequent phone calls from her customers, something he had warned her about.
When Mbete got a call from the salon, her husband followed her and a fight ensued.
Mwenga reportedly hit his wife before stabbing her severally on the chest, neck, legs and hands.
Witnesses were unable to intervene as Mwenga had locked the salon.
The accused told the court he had drank several bottles of Kenya wine and did not remember killing his wife because he "did not have any grudge or ill -will".
