Joseph Irungu, alias Joe Jowie, used a pistol to shoot himself while in Jacque Maribe’s bedroom, the journalist has told the police.
Maribe said the incident occurred after a ‘serious’ disagreement between her and Jowie – her fiancée.
The new revelation is contrary to what the two lovers had recorded at Lang’ata police station where they claimed Irungu was shot by three thugs who waylaid him at the gate to Maribe’s house at Royal Park estate.
Jowie is being held as the chief suspect in the callous murder of Monica Kimani who was killed in Kilimani.
The fresh details emerged on Monday as the celebrated journalist was frog-marched to Kiambu law court and charged with the murder of Kimani.
“That according to the statement from the Respondent (Jackeline Wanjiru Maribe), the said Joseph Irungu alias Jowie on the night of 20/21st September 2018 at around 1 am attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself on the left chest following serious disagreement between the two,” a statement from a detective probing the murder read.
It has also emerged that the gun Jowie used to shoot himself was later hidden to a Mr Brian Kassaine’s house.
The gun had been stuffed into the ceiling. A spent cartridge was recovered.