Sarah Cohen to remain in custody until January 29 as probe into husband's murder continue
The judge is also expected to rule on whether the suspect will undergo a mental assessment following a request from the DPP presented by lawyer Vincent Monda.
The High Court has directed Sarah Wairimu Cohen to remain in remand at Lang’ata Women’s Prison until Wednesday, January 29, as investigations continue into the murder of her husband, Tob Cohen, in July 2019.
Wairimu was re-arrested on Thursday following remarks by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Igonga, stating there was overwhelming evidence showing that she murdered her husband at their home in Lower Kabete.
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High Court Judge Diana Kavenza noted that both parties had submitted extensive arguments, and she required more time to address all the issues in detail.
During the proceedings, High Court Judge Diana Kavenza stated that both the prosecution and defence had presented extensive arguments that required thorough consideration. She requested additional time to evaluate all submissions before delivering her ruling.
"Wairimu’s impending arraignment following her arrest on January 23, 2025, comes after the DPP received new material in relation to Cohen’s death from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)," the DPP said in a statement on Thursday.
"Consequently, the DPP made an application for the termination of an inquest into the murder, which was granted. Upon independent and thorough review of the new material, the DPP is satisfied that Wairimu was involved in the death of Tob Cohen."
Petition
According to a source privy to the case, the investigators had petitioned the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the fresh evidence.
“We (DCI) petitioned the DPP on the evidence. Directions were issued for further investigations. We have now completed filling the gaps and we are ready to prosecute,” the source indicated.
The judge is also expected to rule on whether the suspect will undergo a mental assessment following a request from the DPP presented by lawyer Vincent Monda.
Wairimu's defence team strongly opposed the request, arguing that the prosecution had not provided sufficient justification for a second mental evaluation.
The defence also questioned the prosecution's ability to introduce new evidence following the entry of a nolle prosequi in the case. Monda responded by stating that the trial would address any issues regarding evidence.
The discovery of Cohen's body in a septic tank at their Kitisuru home led to Wairimu's initial arrest in 2019. She was charged with his murder, but the case was later withdrawn in favour of an inquest.
In 2020, Wairimu claimed in court that Cohen had been killed and his body hidden in the septic tank while she was in police custody. She alleged that the perpetrators were known individuals who were being shielded by law enforcement authorities.
In the initial trial, Wairimu and her co-accused, Peter Karanja, were charged with murdering Cohen between July 19 and July 20, 2019.
Both denied the charges before Justice Stella Mutuku and were released on a cash bail of Sh2 million each.
However, Karanja was rearrested and later arraigned in Naivasha.
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