The judgment of former TV presenter Jacque Maribe and her former fiance Joseph Irungu alias Jowie in the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani has been set for March 15, 2024.
This is after lawyers representing Maribe asked trial Judge Grace Nzioka to postpone the matter after Maribe reportedly fell ill.
Maribe was set to appear before the judge on Friday morning alongside Jowie but failed to do so. Only Jowie appeared before the judge.
In her plea to the court through her lawyer Katwa Kigen, Maribe asked the court to instead accommodate her as she is seriously ill. Kigen argued that the nature of Maribe’s ailment was confidential, an argument that state prosecutor Gakoe Gichuhi objected to.
The court was to pronounce its judgement on Friday morning at 9 am. The prosecution however, said that it was not in objection to the adjournment since sickness is not something that can be controlled.
In her ruling, Justice Nzioka argued that the court had in two instances adjourned the hearing due to her unavailability.
She asked all counsels to inform their clients why the matter had been adjourned as it was ready. The judge scheduled the matter for March 15, 2024.
“I understand the anxiety parties have. Let’s make clients appreciate the reason for adjournment. Let them be well informed,” said Justice Nzioka.
If found guilty of murder, both Maribe and Jowie could be sentenced to death, jailed for the rest of their lives or slapped with prison terms.
The late Kimani was murdered in her Lamuria Garden apartment in the Kilimani area, on the night of September 19, 2018, after arriving in the country from South Sudan.
Maribe and Jowie were charged on October 15, 2018.
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