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Monica murder case: Maribe, Jowie to know fate in March

Jacque Maribe and Joseph Irungu at the Milimani High Court, Nairobi, on June 26. (NMG)

By Apollo Ochieng | Friday, January 26, 2024

Her lawyer Katwa Kigen asked the court to delay the delivery of the judgment.

Former news presenter Jacque Maribe and Joseph Irungu alias Jowie will know their fate in the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani on March 15, 2024.

The ruling was made by Trial Judge Grace Nzioka after Maribe through her lawyer Katwa Kigen asked the court to delay the delivery of the judgment.

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Maribe, who was set to appear before the judge on Friday morning alongside Jowie, failed to appear after she reportedly fell ill.

The judge had then ordered that she physically be produced in court ahead of the delivery of the judgment with her lawyer Kigen asking the court to instead accommodate her as she is seriously ill.

The court was to pronounce its judgement Friday at 9 am.

In his submissions before the court, Katwa argued that the nature of Maribe’s ailment was confidential, an argument that state prosecutor Gakoe Gichuhi objected to, adding that no papers had been made available to them.

The prosecution, however, said that it was not in objection to the adjournment since sickness is not something that can be controlled.

In her ruling, Justice Nzioka argued that the court had in two instances adjourned the hearing due to her unavailability.

She asked all counsels to inform their clients why the matter had been adjourned as it was ready.

The judge scheduled the delivery of the judgement for March 15, 2024, but declined Maribe's request to have the Judgement delivered in Naivasha where the Judge usually sits owing to resource constraints.

"I understand the anxiety parties have. Let's make clients appreciate the reason for the adjournment. Let them be well informed," said Justice Nzioka.

If found guilty of murder, both Maribe and Jowie could be sentenced to death, jailed for the rest of their lives or slapped with prison terms.

The late Kimani was murdered in her Lamuria Garden apartment in the Kilimani area, on the night of September 19, 2018, after arriving in the country from South Sudan.

The two were charged on October 15, 2018.