The prosecution, led by Prosecution Counsel Ms. Della Wilbey presented two more witnesses today at the Milimani High Court in the ongoing murder trial of John Matara Ong’oa, who is accused of brutally murdering 24-year-old socialite Starlet Wahu on the night of January 3, 2024, at Papino Apartments in South B, Nairobi.
Appearing before Hon. Justice Alexander Muteti, Emily Oporo, a Government Chemist told the court that the DNA profiles from both Starlet Wahu and John Matara were found on the knife believed to be the murder weapon and a towel recovered from the scene.
Horace Arwa, the arresting officer attached to South B Police Station, gave a detailed account of how the accused was apprehended. Arwa testified that he was assigned to attend to a scene after two women made a report of a woman being found lying at Papino Apartment house number Y32 in a pool of blood, and the reportees indicated she appeared to be dead.
He said he immediately rushed to the scene, where he found the body of a woman lying in a pool of blood, who was later identified as Starlet Wahu.
According to his testimony, after visiting the crime scene, he trailed the accused after being informed that he was seen around South B Hospital carrying a towel soaked in blood.
Upon arrival at South B Hospital, he was further informed that the accused had been referred to Mbagathi Hospital. The officer stated that they then made their way to Mbagathi Hospital, where they found the accused being attended to by two male nurses and his clothes soaked in blood, and he had a white towel wrapped on his waist.
The officer told the court that he asked Matara about Wahu’s killing.
According to his testimony, Matara admitted to having a scuffle with her and stated that he stabbed her on the left thigh.
However, further questioning couldn’t proceed immediately because Matara was receiving medical care at the time. Upon his discharge from Mbagathi Hospital, the officer told the court that he arrested him together with Andrew Nyongesa, who had allegedly taken him to the hospital for treatment.
The officer then took his blood-stained clothes and booked them as exhibits, which were produced before court during his testimony. The next hearing continues tomorrow, 11th February, 2026.
