DPP Hands Maxine Wahome Blow In Asad Khan Death Case

Wahome appeared before Magistrate Bernard Ochoi and during the mention of her case...

DPP Hands Maxine Wahome Blow In Asad Khan Death Case
Maxine Wahome in court on March 7, 2023. /CITIZEN DIGITAL

World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally driver Maxine Wahome's hopes of avoiding a murder charge following the death of her deceased boyfriend and rally counterpart, Asad Khan were quashed on Tuesday, March 7.

Wahome appeared before Magistrate Bernard Ochoi and during the mention of her case, it was revealed that she will be charged with murder.

The prosecution indicated that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had decided to impose murder charges on her, and further informed that she will be arraigned in court on Wednesday, March 8 to answer murder charges.

Collage of Asad Khan and Maxine Wahome. /VIRALTEAKE

"The prosecutor has indicated that the DPP has now made a decision to charge the respondent with a count of murder, and he has further informed the court that the respondent is required to appear before the high court today virtually for directions by the high court judge in view of that application, and this miscellaneous application is closed," Magistrate Ochoi noted.

Similarly, the DPP asked the court to detain the suspect at the Kilimani police station for mental evaluation prior to filing the plea.

An investigating officer told a Nairobi court on Monday, January 30 that a file into the probe was forwarded to the DPP for further recommendation after the inquest into the rally driver's demise was complete.

Wahome was arraigned in court under a miscellaneous application and was not charged with an offence.

“I am still looking for a response from the office of the DPP. They said that they have not made a decision on the same,” the officer said, urging the court to close the miscellaneous file pending further directions from the DPP.

Asad's family, through lawyers Cliff Ombeta and Danstan Omari, however, objected to the closure of the file, with Omari arguing that the police have not disclosed in finality if they recommended her to be charged or not.

He disclosed that closing the miscellaneous application without charging anyone was a sinister move contributing to a set-up.

“The investigations officer has not disclosed the recommendations. If the DPP decides to charge the person what happens, this is the first case where we don’t have the directions,” Omari the court.

He instead asked the court to give a further mention date so that the DPP can tell the court what his recommendation is.

Making an appearance during the court proceedings was the lawyer representing the landlord of the residence where Asad was staying before his death.

The landlord had asked the court to order the investigating officer to hand back the apartment, which was treated as a crime scene.

“As of now, we have arrears of Ksh269,500. It’s our request that the IO gives back the premises to the landlord so that he does not continue to suffer the loss of income, given the admission that the investigations are done,” the lawyer told the court.

However, the investigating officer opposed the release of the apartment to the landlord, noting that they would not do so until they know the directions that the DPP will give.

Wahome’s lawyers went on to oppose the victim having an audience before the court, insisting that she is the victim in this matter. The court heard that she is only a witness to what happened, further faulting Omari’s use of the word murder in his submission.

Maxine Wahome in court on January 12, 2023. /TWITTER