The daughter of slain former marathon champion Samson Kandie narrated in the court how her father and mother frequently quarrelled and fought over claims of extramarital affairs.
Vienna Chepchirchir said their family was torn apart because of the differences between her parents.
She testified against her mother in an Eldoret court, whom she claimed was "happy even as medics battled to save the life of Kandie in hospital".
Kandie was rushed to hospital after he was attacked at his home. Chepchirchir told the court she was surprised her mother Rose Chepkemboi appeared happy, while everyone else at the hospital was in shock.
“I saw her smiling while making calls and at one point, I heard her saying Kandie had received a thorough beating from God,” she said.
She was testifying before Justice Reuben Nyakundi in a case in which Chepkemboi and two other suspects are charged with the murder of the athlete. Chepkemboi is a mother of four and a clinical officer.
Chepkemboi, Vincent Ngososei Kiprono and Jamlick Kiptoon Morogit have denied killing the 53-year-old former marathoner on October 2 last year at his Elgon View estate in Eldoret.
Chepchirchir gave a lengthy testimony in which she said her parents frequently quarrelled and fought over accusations Kandie was having extramarital affairs.
“I always heard the quarrelling, with my mother claiming that our father had an affair with another woman,” she said.
She said her father always denied the claims and they had asked their mother to produce evidence of her allegations.
At one point, she said, Kandie gave his phone to Chepkemboi and asked her to look for the number of "the other woman".
“My mother looked for the number but did not get it,” she said.
She said on October 1, 2024, after a bitter quarrel, Kandie left home and told her he would not return because he was going away "to look for peace, which he could not find at his home".
She said she pleaded with her father not to leave, but he was adamant.
A day later, while at her shop about a kilometre from their house, she decided to call her mother so they could go home together as it was getting late.
“My father was harsh and never wanted me to get home late and that is why I wanted to go home with my mother so my father would not get angry," Chepchirchir said.
She said her mother arrived at the shop at 7.40 pm and talked to the landlord before they walked home, arriving at exactly 8 pm.
As they were heading home, Chepkemboi kept on insisting that Chepchirchir call her father on the phone. She complied and called her but her father did not pick her calls.
When they got home, she saw her father’s car in the compound but it was dark as the lights had not been switched on.
Chepchirchir said she dashed to the house and switched on the lights but Kandie was not in.
She made more calls to her father but they went unanswered. After a while, someone else picked her call and told her to go look for Kandie in the toilet.
“The man who picked the call asked me why Kandie had been messing up with his wife,” Chepchirchir told the court.
She tried to question the man but he cut the call.
Her mother, who was nearby, asked her what was going on but she immediately dashed outside to the toilet where she found her father.
Chepchirchir said her father was writhing in pain, with his hands tied and bleeding from the head and eyes.
She said she screamed for help but her mother asked her to stop making noise to their neighbours.
Chepkemboi also asked her not to call anyone because they would take Kandie to hospital using their car, Chepchirchir told the court.
Kandie was still talking but in pain.
“My mother asked me to bring some water, which I saw her giving to my father as I tried to call a relative who is nurse to come with an ambulance,” she said.
They were assisted by two watchmen to carry Kandie to the car and rushed him to Top Hill Hospital.
It's while they were waiting for Kandie to be attended to by doctors that she saw her mother making calls while smiling.
“I was surprised because everyone was sad but she looked happy,” Chepchirchir said.
The state has lined up at least 20 witnesses. The hearing continues.
