Photo Nairobi Life
The High Court on Friday postponed the ruling on Jackie Maribe and Jowie Irungu's murder case, citing a delay in the presentation and documentation of exhibits.
The ruling was initially set for December 15, 2023, and is now set to be issued on January 26, 2024, sparking more anxiety on the case that attracted nationwide attention.
Issuing the directive, Justice Lady Grace Nzioka stated that she received the exhibits she had long requested a few hours before the ruling, thus limiting her time to prepare the verdict.
She also regretted that she received different reasons explaining why the exhibits could not be tabled in time.
Furthermore, the exhibits could not be sent by courier services as she was in Naivasha, yet the exhibits were in Nairobi, and due to the nature of the goods, any other party outside the ruling was prohibited from handling them.
She, however received them on Monday, December 10, 2023.
In her virtual submission, Justice Nzioka added that she had yet to complete scrutinising part of the submitted exhibits.
She also confirmed to attendees who were tuned online that she received “three gunny bags” of exhibits and thus needed more time to pursue all of them as clothing and bottles, among others.
Initially, the ruling was to be delivered on October 6, 2023, by Justice Nzioka, but due to illness, she postponed it to Friday, December 15.
Meanwhile, Jowie had pleaded with the court for the judgment to be issued before Christmas, as the wait had caused agony for both families.
Maribe and Jowie Irungu were accused in the murder of Monica Kimani, a businesswoman, on September 19, 2018.
Since then, the prosecution has presented over 44 witnesses and is yet to determine whether the duo is guilty or not.
