NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 9 – The High Court has ordered a mental assessment for Citizen TV journalist Jacque Maribe and medical treatment for her fiancé, Joseph Irungu alias Jowie, before they can plead to murder charges.
Justice Jessie Lesiit directed that Maribe be remanded at the Lang’ata Women’s Prison while Jowie will be detained at the Industrial Area Remand Prison until Monday when they will be produced in court to face charges for killing Monica Kimani.
Lawyer Cliff Ombeta complained that Jowie has not received medical treatment for a bullet wound sustained during an apparent suicide attempt, despite orders issued by a Kiambu court when he was first arraigned two weeks ago.
The two appeared in court Tuesday morning following approval of charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji who is satisfied with evidence gathered by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to prosecute the couple.
They are accused of murdering Monica at her apartment in Kilimani, in what is linked to money she was carrying on arrival from Juba, South Sudan.
“I have independently reviewed the evidence so far on record and I’m satisfied that there exists a prima facie case to warrant criminal prosecution against the following individuals (Maribe and Jowie), for the offence of murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code,” the DPP said in a statement.
– How did it all start? –
Frantic calls by Kimani’s brother led to the discovery of her body at an apartment in Lumuria Gardens in Kilimani.
Her throat had been slit, mouth masked, and hands tied on the behind. The body was inside a bathtub, while water was still running.
This was on September 20. According to the detectives she was killed at wee hours of September 19.
READ: DNA analysis will nail Monica Kimani’s killers
Days later, Jowie, who police identified as the prime suspect was arrested.
He was found with a gunshot wound that would be subject to controversy after he and Maribe gave different accounts.
They told police in Lang’ata that Jowie had been shot by three gunmen on motorbike outside their house still in Lang’ata.
But Maribe’s statement as captured by the investigating officer Maxwell Otieno changed the narrative after she said that Jowie shot himself after a bitter quarrel in a case of attempted suicide.
READ: DNA outcome nails Jowie in Monica Kimani’s murder
Police in Kilimani later impounded a car belonging to Maribe for dusting. It is the car that Jowie used the night Kimani was killed.
Multiple witnesses including a security guard positively identified Jowie as having been at the deceased’s house.
He used an Identity Card belonging to a security guard, who has since been questioned. The ID, the guard told police got lost at a construction site he was working at a few days to the incident.
Jowie shot himself using a gun belonging to Brian Kassaine, their neighbour in Lang’ata. Him too is in police custody.
The day Kimani was murdered, she had arrived from South Sudan where she used to run a family business and was scheduled to travel to Dubai.
READ: Who was with Jowie? Police examine CCTV footage for second suspect
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WATCH: Maribe sent to prison awaiting mental evaluation, charges