John Matara Claims, ‘Two People Attempted to Remove Me From The Police Cells’
John Matara, the individual accused of the brutal killing of socialite Starlet Wahu at a temporary rental apartment in South B, Nairobi, is set to be held in custody for an additional week.
This follows a request by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for an extension of custody orders to conclude their investigations.
Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti of the Makadara Law Courts issued the orders on Friday, January 26.
Sergeant Alex Chokera, the investigator in the case, informed the court that he had forwarded the investigative file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) upon concluding the investigation. However, the ODPP identified specific areas that needed further attention.
Matara had been held in custody for 21 days, and Sergeant Chokera requested an extension of the directives to encompass the regions that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) intended to investigate before formally charging him.
The ODPP composed a letter spanning two pages addressed to the DCI, outlining the results of its investigations. The letter also highlighted areas in the ongoing inquiry that need attention to strengthen the case against the suspect before filing charges.
But Matara opposed the application through his lawyer Samuel Ayora.
Mr. Ayora began by expressing profound distress over the fact that his client had experienced a physical assault from an unidentified individual within the court premises, all while being under the supervision of the police officers escorting him to the courtroom.
He mentioned that his Matara is still not secure, even when under police custody. He shared that while he was held at the Industrial Area police station, two individuals tried to take him out of the police cells and transport him to an undisclosed location. Fortunately, he managed to resist this attempt successfully.
The attorney mentioned that while Matara was held in custody for a period of 21 days, he underwent questioning on only two occasions, both on separate dates, with no further developments during the remaining 19 days.
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Ayora mentioned that the previously provided 21-day period was sufficient for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conclude its inquiry into the murder. He noted that both the DCI and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) did not reveal specific details about the incomplete areas of the investigation. Ayora urged Ms. Kivuti to dismiss Sgt. Chokera’s application.
Ms. Kivuti, nevertheless, approved the requests and instructed Mr. Ayora to formally report the allegations of assault and any other grievances to the police, ensuring thorough investigations would be conducted.
The DCI is looking into a murder case under the provisions of section 203, in conjunction with section 204 of the Penal Code. However, if the investigations uncover that Matara took Wahu’s belongings during the incident, the DCI may suggest an additional charge of robbery with violence.
Wahu’s remains were found in the rented residence where she had registered with Matara on January 3. Matara was apprehended the following day at Mbagathi Hospital, where he was receiving medical attention for an injury.
There are suspicions that he incurred the injury while engaged in a physical altercation with the deceased within the confines of the Airbnb.
The individual was taken into custody following Ms. Kivuti’s permission for the DCI to detain him while investigations proceeded.
Matara’s matter will be brought up on February 2, during which the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is anticipated to formally accuse the defendant in the high court.
John Matara Claims, ‘Two People Attempted to Remove Me From The Police Cells’
