logo

Monica Kimani murder case: Judgement postponed to December 15

Monica’s body was found at her Lamuria Gardens Apartment in Kilimani.

image
by DAMARIS KIILU

News06 October 2023 - 06:37

In Summary


  • Jowie is the first accused person in the murder trial of Monica.
  • He was charged alongside Jacque Maribe in 2018.
Journalist Jacque Maribe and Jowie Irungu at Milimani Law Court on November 26, 2019.

The High Court has postponed the judgement of former TV news anchor Jackie Maribe and her ex-fiancé Jowie Irungu over the murder of late businesswoman Monica Kimani.

The judgement has been postponed to December 15.

Justice Grace Nzioka was to deliver the judgement today but pushed it to a later date as she is unwell.

"I will be taking the leave dates from November, so let's check December," she said.

The prosecution called 35 witnesses who testified against the two.

Although they have denied knowing Monica or being involved in her death, assistant DPP Gikui Gichuki said the evidence they presented in court is sufficient to have them convicted.

"My lady the death was unlawful as indicated by all the prosecution witnesses. As per witness testimony, the first accused was placed in the house of the deceased, he was positively identified during the identification parade" Gikui said.

Gikui at the tail end of the case said the two had a common intention and 'acted in concert to eliminate the deceased'

She relied on a court of appeal judgement that held that aiding and abetting generally means somehow to assist in the commission of a crime or to be an accomplice.

The state has also told the court to consider the fact that Maribe made no attempt to disassociate herself from the actions of Jowie and instead helped him to burn evidence.

“The demeanour of Jowie and Maribe should also be taken into account at the time of investigations which entailed giving false information to the police during the trial where the accused in some cases missed court proceedings,” she said.

Regarding the second accused person, Jackie Maribe, the prosecution submitted that she was at that time the partner of the first accused and were living together.

Gikui added that Maribe was the owner of the vehicle used in a criminal enterprise.

"She also allowed the gun to be kept in her house yet she had a young child. It should be noted in testimony produced in this court that she lied to the police consistently regarding how the first accused person was injured," the DPP said.

However, Maribe’s lawyer, Katwa Kigen, has argued that none of the witnesses had incriminated the former news anchor in the murder.

“The case is based on circumstantial evidence; there’s no direct evidence against the second accused person,” Maribe’s lawyer said.

He also said there was no DNA evidence linking Maribe to Monica's murder.


logo© The Star 2024. All rights reserved