Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-02 13:05:59
John Matara, the murder suspect of socialite Starlet Wahu, appeared virtually before Milimani High Court judge Kanyi Kimondo from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Makadara, Nairobi. He denied the charges of killing Wahu on January 3, 2024, in a short-stay rented flat in South B, Nairobi. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) stated its intention to object to his release on bail.
The judge gave Matara seven days to prepare his formal bail application and to serve it on the ODPP and Wahu’s family lawyer. The ODPP was also ordered to file its application to oppose the bail and serve it on the defense lawyer. Additionally, a social inquiry report is to be prepared by the Department of Probation and Aftercare Services to assist the court in determining the defendant’s suitability for bond and bail conditions. The probation department was also ordered to prepare a victim impact assessment, which will be relied upon in the case.
Matara is represented by lawyer Samuel Ayora, who expressed concerns about his safety even in police custody. Ayora wanted to lodge a complaint against the DCI Makadara officers, but the judge advised him to wait for the appropriate time at the start of the trial. Matara will remain in custody at Nairobi Area Remand and Allocation Prison in the Industrial Area until February 26, 2024, when his bail application will be heard. He will also be interviewed by probation officers from the remand prison.
According to Ayora, Matara was the target of an attempted abduction while in custody at the Industrial Area Police Station, where two people tried to remove him from the police cells and take him to an unknown location. Fortunately, he was able to resist the attempt.
The case has garnered significant public attention, with the image of Starlet Wahu Mwangi, whose body was found at an apartment in South B, Nairobi, being widely circulated in the media. The events surrounding her tragic death have raised concerns about safety and security, leading to heightened scrutiny of law enforcement and the judicial process.
The upcoming bail hearing and trial will be closely monitored by the public and legal experts alike, as they seek justice for the victim and accurate assessment of the suspect’s culpability. As the case unfolds, further details will emerge, shedding light on the circumstances of the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings.
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