Jackie Maribe: I never met Monicah Kimani
TV journalist Jackie Maribe has told court she first heard about the murder of Monicah Kimani while reading the news at the Royal Media Services.
Maribe is, alongside her ex-boyfriend Joe ‘Jowie’ Irungu, charged with murdering Monica who was until her death a businesswoman based in South Sudan.
“I know nothing about the killing of the deceased businesswoman,” Maribe told trial Judge Grace Nzioka.
Both Jowie and Maribe who are out on bond have denied murdering Monicah on the night of September 19, 2018.
Led in her defence by lawyer Katwa Kigen, Maribe said on the night when Monicah was brutally murdered she was in the at work and conducted interviews on television until way past midnight when she left in the company of her guests.
Among the guests she interviewed are Juliet Julie alias Juju, Chelangat Ruto and Anita Thumbi who was later joined by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
The journalist said she stayed with her guests after leaving work upto 4am.
She told the judge she used to live with Jowie at her Royal Park Appartment and it is him (jowie) who used to drive her vehicle registration number KCA 031E.
Maribe says Jowie used to drop her at her Royal Media Service working station.
“After dropping me at my workplace he would go and I did not have control of the vehicle after that,” Maribe told Justice Nzioka.
She testified that she neither knew the late Monicah Kimani nor her relatives and her place of her abode.
She further told the court that she did not participate or witness the burning of clothes outside her apartment by Jowie.
“It is your evidence to this court that you know nothing about the killing of Monicah,” Kigen asked her.
“I know nothing about the death of Monicah and I did not kill her. I learnt about her death when I was reading a news bulletin.I urge this court to acquit me,” Maribe stated as she rested her defence.
After concluding the defence hearing Justice Nzioka directed lawyer Prof Hassan Nandwa for Jowie and Kigen for Maribe plus the prosection to file written submissions.
She fixed the case for mention on June 26, 2023, for the parties to make final remarks before she sets a date for the delivery of judgement.
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