John Matara, the man accused of killing socialite Starlet Wahu , appeared before Ruiru Law Courts facing charges of rape and robbery with ...
John Matara, the man accused of killing socialite Starlet Wahu, appeared before Ruiru Law Courts facing charges of rape and robbery with violence against a different woman. The alleged incidents occurred on May 16, 2023, where John Matara is said to have used a kitchen knife to rob his victim of Sh88,300 in Kahawa Wendani.
The stolen money included Sh18,300 from M-pesa, Sh30,000 in cash, and two phones valued at Sh25,000 and Sh15,000. Matara is also accused of taking the victim’s ID, international passport, and family bank ATM card. The charge sheet indicates that he used violence just before the robbery.
In addition to the robbery charges, Matara faces accusations of rape and sexual assault, allegedly manipulating the victim’s legs to cause penetration.
John Matara in Court
During the court session, John Matara denied all charges. And his defense lawyer, Samuel Ayora, requested the court to release him on reasonable bond terms. Ayora highlighted Matara’s known residence and refuted claims of him being a flight risk.
The prosecution, led by Ms. Moraa, opposed the bond request, citing another pending case and ongoing investigations into similar matters. They expressed concerns about potential witness interference if Matara was granted bail.
In response, Ayora argued that the prosecution’s reasons were speculative and lacked evidence to deny bond.
Counsel John Ayora raised concerns of Matara’s alleged assault by DCI officers during transportation, saying “He suffered blows to his left ear and his testicles were pulled,” Thus, Ayora requested medical treatment and a report to be submitted to the court.
The magistrate, Charles Mwaniki, ordered John Matara to report the alleged assault to Ruiru police station and undergo medical treatment and a DNA test.
The decision on whether John Matara will be released on bond is set for Friday, March 8, 2024, as the case unfolds, speculation over the charges against John Matara in Starlet Wahu’s murder case is rife.
By Vivian K.
The post JOHN MATARA CHARGED WITH ANOTHER RAPE AND ARMED ROBBERY appeared first on BNN.
