A man was arrested for stabbing his estranged wife 17 times, following accounts by their child and neighbours who visited the scene after the crime.
The minor told police intricate details that might help solve the murder of Esther Nyaga, a nurse at Muruka Dispensary in Kandara, Murang'a County.
Kenyans.co.ke learnt that the couple was in the process of getting a divorce and Evans Njacha Kamau had been slapped with court orders, prohibiting him from accessing the family home.
According to family members, Esther had reported the violent outbursts and assault incidents that she underwent in the hands of her estranged husband but police did not take the matter seriously.
Kamau and Esther wed in 2010 but separated in 2019. They have three children (a daughter aged 11 and sons aged 7 and 2).
On the day of her brutal murder, family members claim that a male suspect broke into the home and switched off the power at the main supply. The househelp saw someone in a balaclava holding a knife and gun and she fleed screaming.
Esther went towards the kitchen after she heard a commotion, only to be ambushed by the assailant. The man ordered her to give him money and directed her upstairs.
They passed the first bedroom, which belongs to one of the children and the assailant took her into the master bedroom and slumped her in the bathroom where he proceeded to stab her.
The assailant went back downstairs, apparently looking for the househelp and that is when the children recognized his voice. Luckily for her, the househelp had run and hid. The attacker fleed.
Esther called her children and told them to call their neighbour to take her to a nearby hospital. On the way, Esther told them that her estranged husband was the alleged attacker.
A post-mortem report showed that the nurse had suffered severe injuries in the stomach and the assailant had also attempted to slit her throat.
Juja Directorate of Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) Richard Mwaura told Kenyans.co.ke that investigation into the murder are still ongoing and the suspect will be taken back to court on Wednesday, August 18 for further direction.
