Maribe and Jowie to wait longer for murder verdict

Former TV anchor Jacque Maribe and her ex-fiancé Joseph Irungu, popularly known as Jowie, will have to wait until next year to know their fate in the murder case of businesswoman Monica Kimani.

The High Court on Friday, December 15, 2023, postponed the delivery of the judgement to January 26, 2024, citing the heavy workload of the judge.

Justice Grace Nzioka, who is currently stationed at the Naivasha High Court, said she had not been able to complete writing the judgement due to the backlog of cases in her docket.

"I regret to inform you that I have not been able to finish writing the judgement. I have a lot of cases to deal with and I need more time to go through the evidence and submissions. I apologise for the inconvenience and I hope you understand," Justice Nzioka said in a virtual session.

The judge had earlier ruled that Maribe and Jowie had a case to answer in the murder of Kimani, who was found dead in her apartment in Kilimani on September 19, 2018.

The prosecution had presented 44 witnesses, including police officers, forensic experts, and Kimani's relatives and friends, to prove that the duo had a hand in the gruesome killing.

Maribe and Jowie, who have since parted ways, denied the charges and maintained their innocence. They presented five witnesses in their defence, including Maribe's neighbour and Jowie's friend.

The case has attracted public attention since it broke out, with many Kenyans following the twists and turns of the trial.

The postponement of the judgement means that the two accused will have to endure another month of anxiety and uncertainty as they await the court's decision.