Journalist Jacque Maribe has been acquitted in the Monica Kimani murder case due to lack of evidence. Justice Grace Nzioka of the Milimani Law Courts made the ruling on Friday, marking the end of a case that spanned over five years.
Maribe, the second accused in the case, was acquitted, while Jowie, the primary accused, was found guilty of the murder. Justice Nzioka concluded that Jowie armed himself with a gun, disguised himself in a kanzu, and gained access to Monica Kimani’s residence, where he committed the murder.
According to Justice Nzioka, the evidence presented by the prosecution sufficiently proved Jowie’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. She emphasized that the perpetrator intended instant death for the victim and demonstrated a ‘know-how on how to kill.’
The judge said that Jowie’s DNA was found on the kanzu, the gun, and the crime scene, and that he had no alibi for his whereabouts on the night of the murder. She also dismissed Jowie’s claim that he was attacked by unknown assailants on the same night, saying that his injuries were self-inflicted.
The judge further noted that Jowie’s conduct after the murder showed a lack of remorse and an attempt to cover up his tracks. She said that he burned the kanzu, disposed of the gun, and lied to the police and the media about his involvement.
Justice Nzioka said that the murder was premeditated, brutal, and cold-blooded, and that it deserved the maximum penalty of death. She said that Jowie had no regard for human life and that he deserved no mercy from the court.
Maribe, on the other hand, was cleared of any involvement in the murder, as the prosecution failed to link her to the crime. The judge said that Maribe was only implicated by her association with Jowie, and that there was no evidence that she aided or abetted him in any way.
The judge said that Maribe was a victim of love, and that she was misled by Jowie’s lies. She said that Maribe cooperated with the police and the court, and that she had suffered enough during the trial.
The judge also praised Maribe’s professionalism and integrity as a journalist, and said that she hoped that Maribe would resume her career and rebuild her life.
The ruling was met with mixed reactions from the public, as some celebrated Maribe’s acquittal, while others condemned Jowie’s conviction. Some also questioned the credibility of the justice system and the handling of the case.
Monica Kimani was a 28-year-old businesswoman who was found dead in her apartment in Kilimani, Nairobi, on September 19, 2018. She had been strangled, stabbed, and her throat slit. She had just returned from South Sudan, where she ran a lucrative business.
Jowie and Maribe were arrested in connection with the murder on September 25, 2018, and charged with murder on October 9, 2018. They both pleaded not guilty and were released on bail in 2019.
The case attracted a lot of public attention, as it involved prominent personalities and exposed the dark side of love, money, and power.
