The trial of Joseph Irungu alias Jowie and journalist Jacque Maribe for the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani will continue next month in an open court.
Justice Grace Nzioka considered the request of the two former lovers who wanted the matter to be heard in open court and she directed it to be heard from May 5.
Maribe and Jowie, who came up for hearing virtually on Wednesday, have denied murdering Monica on the night of September 19 and September 20, 2018 after her lifeless body was found in her bathroom with her throat slit.
Maribe, a former Citizen tv journalist, distanced herself from the murder, claiming that her relationship with Irungu was purely romantic.
“I was in a love relationship with a person the prosecution have an interest in,” she told the court in 2019 phrasing that as the only reason she was standing trial.
She added that she allowed Irungu to come live in her house, and gave him access to her car.
A new judge will be appointed to handle the case following the transfer of justice James Wakiaga who handled the case before having heard testimonies from four witnesses, including a gardener, caretaker, a delivery official and a friend to Maribe.
According to lead prosecutor Catherine Mwaniki, 32 witnesses will be called. Four of them are protected while five will be expert witnesses.
Since they pleaded not guilty to the charges, Maribe and Jowie were released on a cash bail of Sh2 million each.
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