I Was Attacked In Court- John Matara Claims In Starlet Wahu Murder Case

The lawyer further indicated that during the period that Matara was held in custody for 21 days, he was only questioned twice by the police on two different dates

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jan 29, 2024 - 11:44 Updated: Jan 29, 2024 - 11:48
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I Was Attacked In Court- John Matara Claims In Starlet Wahu Murder Case
Collage of John Matara (left) accused of killing Starlet Wahu (right). /VIRAL TEA KE

34-year-old John Matara, who is the main suspect in the murder of 26-year-old Starlet Wahu Mwangi, has now claimed that his life is in danger.

Matara alleged, through his lawyer, that he was physically assaulted by an unknown person inside the court premises as he was being escorted to the courtroom at the Makadara Law Courts.

While challenging the court's decision to detain him for another seven days after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought an extension of the custodial order to complete investigations, Matara argued that he remained unsafe even in police custody.

John Matara appearing in court on January 26, 2024. /PHOTO

He went on to claim that during his detention at the Industrial Area Police Station, two people attempted to forcibly remove him from the police cells.

Matara further indicated that during the period that he was held in custody for 21 days, he was only questioned twice by the police on two different dates and that nothing took place for the rest of the 19 days.

Matara's lawyer was however ordered by the court to report the assault against his client and other complaints to the police for proper investigations to be carried out.

Meanwhile, the investigating officer in the case, Sergeant Alex Chokera, told the court that he had submitted the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) after completing investigations, but the ODPP had pointed out new areas that needed to be covered.

Despite the murder suspect having been held in custody for 21 days, Sergeant Chokera sought an extension of the orders to cover areas the ODPP wanted to be investigated before charging him.

The ODPP had written a two-page letter to the DCI, detailing its findings from the investigation and identifying the gaps in the probe that should be addressed to tighten the evidence against the suspect.

The lawyer argued that the 21 days given earlier was enough for the DCI to complete the investigation into the murder, adding that the DCI and the ODPP did not disclose the areas of the investigation that were incomplete.

The DCI is investigating a case of murder contrary to Section 203 read with Section 204 of the Penal Code, but could recommend an additional charge of robbery with violence should the investigation reveal that Matara stole Wahu's property during the incident.

Matara was arrested on Friday, January 5, a day after Wahu's lifeless body was found in an apartment in South B, Nairobi, where she had checked in with the murder suspect.

He was arrested the following day at Mbagathi Hospital, where he had sought treatment for an injury he was believed to have sustained during a scuffle with the deceased at the short-stay apartment.

Matara previously claimed that he did not kill Wahu as alleged and that he only stabbed her in the thigh and not the chest or head as was reported. Her body was found at an Airbnb in South B, Nairobi, soaked in blood and had multiple bruises and stab wounds all around the thighs.

The case will be mentioned on Friday, February 2 when DPP Renson Ingonga is expected to charge the suspect.

CCTV footage showing the late Starlet Wahu with John Matara at an Airbnb apartment in Nairobi's South B. /K24

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