Starlet Wahu murder: Court hears graphic testimonies as 3 witnesses testify against John Matara

Three more witnesses on Thursday testified at the Milimani High Court in the ongoing murder trial of John Matara Ong’oa, who is accused of killing 24-year-old socialite Starlet Wahu on January 3, 2024, at Papino Apartments in South B, Nairobi.

The first witness, Police Constable Allan Njoka, a crime scene investigator, presented his report dated July 29, 2024, backed by 21 photographs he captured at the scene in the early hours of January 4, 2024.

Njoka told the court the photos accurately reflected the state of the apartment and confirmed there was no evidence of tampering.

The second witness, retired government pathologist Dr. Peter Ndegwa, testified that he conducted the postmortem on Wahu’s body at City Mortuary on January 5, 2024, after identification by her family.

He reported ten fingernail marks on her neck, a stab wound on the right thigh, internal bleeding on the right side of the head, and signs of excessive blood loss.

He concluded that Wahu died from severe hemorrhage caused by the stab wound and strangulation-related trauma.

The final witness of the day, a cashier from South B Hospital, recalled receiving a male emergency patient with bleeding injuries to his arms and legs, wrapped in a blood-soaked white towel.

She told the court the patient identified himself as Fredrick Opondo, aged 36, before being referred to Mbagathi Hospital for further treatment.

Following the testimonies, the prosecution applied to amend the charge sheet to include the accused’s alias. The team also requested an adjournment, informing Justice Alexander Muteti that only five witnesses remain to take the stand.

The case will resume on November 27, 2025, when the remaining witnesses are expected to testify.