The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) intends to call 32 witnesses in the murder trial of Joseph Irungu alias Jowie and TV journalist Jackie Maribe.
Jowie and Maribe are charged with the gruesome murder of Nairobi businesswoman Monica Kimani.
The two, however, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge which they allegedly committed on September 19, 2018, at Lamuria Apartments in Nairobi’s Kilimani area.
On Tuesday, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (SADPP) Catherine Mwaniki told High Court Judge James Wakiaga that witnesses in the case are protected.
She said that out of the 33, four are expert witnesses, adding that there is watertight evidence to prosecute the case.
“We have secured watertight evidence including photographs and digital records to prove the case once the trial starts,” she said.
Maribe was granted a Sh1 Million bail but ordered not to read news until the case is heard and determined.
On the other hand, Jowie’s second application for bail hit a snag as Justice Wakiaga dismissed it on grounds of lacking merit.
In a ruling read on Tuesday, Justice Wakiaga termed Jowie’s fresh application as premature.
Justice Wakiaga ordered for Jowie’s pre-bail report and also ordered that all witnesses in the case to be placed under witnesses protection.
The trial starts on June 25.