The prosecution presented two more witnesses Tuesday at the Milimani High Court in the ongoing murder trial of John Matara Ong’oa, who is accused of brutally murdering 24-year-old socialite Starlet Wahu on the night of January 3, 2024, at Papino Apartments in South B, Nairobi.
Appearing before Justice Alexander Muteti, Emily Oporo, a Government Chemist told the court that the DNA profiles from both Starlet Wahu and John Matara were found on the knife believed to be the murder weapon and a towel recovered from the scene.
Horace Arwa, the arresting officer attached to South B Police Station, gave a detailed account of how the accused was apprehended.
Arwa testified that he was assigned to attend to a scene after two women made a report of a woman being found lying at Papino Apartment house number Y32 in a pool of blood, and the reportees indicated she appeared to be dead. He said he immediately rushed to the scene, where he found the body of a woman lying naked in a pool of blood, who was later identified as Starlet Wahu.
According to his testimony, after visiting the crime scene, he trailed the accused after being informed that he was seen around South B Hospital carrying a towel soaked in blood.
Upon arrival at South B Hospital, he was further informed that the accused had been referred to Mbagathi Hospital.
The officer stated that they then made their way to Mbagathi Hospital, where they found the accused being attended to by two male nurses and his clothes soaked in blood, and he had a white towel wrapped on his waist.
The officer told the court that he asked Matara about Wahu’s killing. According to his testimony, Matara admitted to having a scuffle with her and stated that he stabbed her on the left thigh. However, further questioning couldn’t proceed immediately because Matara was receiving medical care at the time.
Upon his discharge from Mbagathi Hospital, the officer told the court that he arrested him together with Andrew Nyongesa, who had allegedly taken him to the hospital for treatment.
The officer then took his blood-stained clothes and booked them as exhibits, which were produced before court during his testimony.
The next hearing continues February 11, 2026.
[10/02, 21:34] Cyrus Ombati Star: FBI releases images of masked man in hunt for Savannah Guthrie’s mother
The FBI released images of a masked person in the hunt for news anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mother.
Officials are seeking to identify the individual, who they say was armed, more than eight days after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home.
Savannah Guthrie said on Monday that her family believes their mother is still alive and issued a new appeal to anyone with information.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared in the middle of night from her Tucson, Arizona, home and was last seen on 31 January. Authorities believe she was taken against her will.
“As of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement on X.
He said authorities had been working to recover images from the home surveillance system that “may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors – including the removal of recording devices”.
This marks the first major breakthrough in a case that has gripped the country for more than a week.
On Monday, police were still saying they had yet to identify any suspects or vehicles connected to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, the same day Savannah Guthrie issued a new video appeal to anyone with information.
“We believe our mum is still out there,” she said in a video posted to her Instagram account. “We need your help.”
The FBI is offering a $50,000 (£36,000) reward for any information.
By BBC News
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