The neighbour to the late Asad Khan came to the defence of rally driver Maxine Wahome, who was implicated in the murder case of the deceased.
According to the statement from the neighbour dated December 12, 2022, submitted in court in the latest hearing, the deceased was allegedly a violent man in his romantic relationships.
Identified as SK (name withheld) in the court affidavit, the eyewitness claimed that in the 10 years, he lived near Asad, he witnessed the rally driver embroiled in several domestic wrangles with his girlfriends.
"I would like to state that one Asad Kalulu has been a resident for more than 10 years at 'our' apartment. I have known him for a while because he has been a violent person to all his girlfriends, meaning they are always fighting," the statement, seen by Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday, March 16, read in part.
When the incident occurred in December 2022, the neighbour noted that he was not around, but was called by the security guard to intervene.
He reportedly rushed to the crime scene and found Asad lying on the floor in a pool of blood. According to the statement, SK did know where the driver was bleeding from, so he opted to call the police.
'I reported the matter and came back with officers, but Asad was not there as he was taken to the hospital," the neighbour told Kilimani Police.
Meanwhile, Wahome was accused as the major suspect in the murder case of Asad, who succumbed to knife injuries while recuperating at the hospital.
However, in her affidavit on Wednesday, March 15, the rally driver pleaded not guilty, arguing that Asad, who was abusive, died of self-inflicted injuries as the pair argued on the balcony.
Wahome stated that before the incident, Asad had ordered her to leave the house and was getting violent, prompting her to seek refuge on the balcony.
"He attacked me and I took refuge at the balcony of the apartment where the deceased attempted to break the door using his feet. He hurt himself," Wahome narrated.
The accused was held at the Lang'ata Women's Prison until her bail application hearing on March 21, 2023.
However, her lawyers, Senior Counsel Phillip Murgor (former Director of Public Prosecutions), Steve Kimathi, Sigh Gitau, and Andrew Musangi sought her release on bail, arguing that Wahome was in custody since March 7.
"There is no need to delay this matter further and we should now admit her to bail and we hope the trial can start tomorrow (Thursday, March 16)," Lawyer Murgor countered.
Khan family lawyers Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta, and Shadrack Wambui informed the court they are yet to be served with the bail application by Wahome. They thus pressed the court to order the defence lawyers to serve them first.
Omari also asked Justice Lilian Mutende to order probation officers to conduct a pre-bail report which will be analysed in court before Wahome's bail application is debated.
Justice Mutende ordered the probation officers to file the pre-bail report before Tuesday, March 21.
