Jacque Maribe and her fiance Joseph Irungu at the Kiambu Law Courts. [Source: Kenyans.co.ke/Twitter]
10:06 am: Plea taking is set for October 15.
10:03 am: Judge Lessit directs that Irungu be remanded at the Industrial Area prison while Maribe is remanded at the Langat'a Women's Prison. She also directed the prison authorities to take Jowie to the hospital for treatment while Maribe is taken for a mental assessment test.
10:01 am: Judge Lessit says a plea cannot be taken before a mental assessment test. She says that the prosecution has until October 15 to have Maribe undertake a mental assessment test and be presented in court for plea taking. She notes that it takes two weeks but she has shortened it to Monday.
9:59 am: Lawyer Kigen for Maribe objects this and says it violates the rights of her client. He adds that they are ready to take a plea and have his client undergo a mental assessment test later on.
9:58 am: Judge says she will allow the prosecution time to have the second accused person (Maribe) undergo a mental assessment test.
9:56 am: Judge Lessit orders that Irungu be taken to the hospital immediately.
9: 52 am: Ombeta objects state counsel's plea to have Maribe detained until Monday next week to undergo a mental assessment at the Mathari Hospital. He says the delay affects the whole case.
He also asks the court to order the police to take Irungu to the hospital because his hand has since become numb and has developed swellings due to lack of medical attention.
9:51 am: Judge Lessit asks photographers in court to walk away because it amounts to harassment.
9:49 am: Defense counsel for the accused persons led by Ombeta introduce themselves to the court
9:42 am: Lawyers Ombeta and Kigen are seen anxiously waiting for the case to start.
9:36 am: Irungu and Maribe's case is yet to be mentioned as the judge starts off on other cases in her chambers.
9:30 am: High Court judge Jessie Lessit is in the chambers and court proceedings kick off.
9:25 am: Lawyer Danstan Omari is seen engaging Maribe at the dock. She is also being represented by lawyer Katwa Kigen.
9:22 am: High Court judge Jessie Lessit is yet to appear in court. Jowie is seen conversing with one of his lawyers. Cliff Ombeta is also part of his legal team.
9:10 am: Jacque is seen conversing with her father Pastor Mwangi Maribe while Jowie sits quietly watching.
9:07 am: Jacque Maribe and her fiance Joseph Irungu are seated at the dock waiting for court proceedings to start. Jowie's left arm is in a sling from the gunshot he survived two weeks ago.
Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie and his fiance Jacque Maribe are appearing before the Kiambu Law Courts to answer to murder charges.
On Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji directed that Jowie together with his fiance be charged for the murder of Monicah Nyawira Kimani.
Monicah was killed in cold blood on September 19 at her house located at Lamour Apartments in Kilimani.
Haji in a letter dated October 9, said that after reviewing evidence, he found that both Maribe and Irungu have a murder case to answer.
Media personality Jacque Maribe with her fiance Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie [Source: Radio Jangwani/Twitter]
“I have independently reviewed the evidence so far on record and am satisfied that there exists a prima facie case to warrant criminal prosecution against the following individuals for the offense of Murder Contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code,” stated Haji.
He added: “Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie, Jacqueline Wanjiru Maribe; I have therefore directed that they be immediately arraigned before the High Court and charged accordingly.”