Kenyans have reacted to Justice Jessie Lessit’s move to assign Monica Kimani’s murder case to a different judge in a different court. This was announced on Monday after the lead suspects Maribe and fiancee Joseph Irungu pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Lessit, with her 32 years experience handling criminal justice cases in Kenya, in the Monday session informed the accused persons that they will be appearing before a different judge on Wednesday 17th October.
Journalist Jacque Maribe and Joe Irungu were appearing before Justice Lessit to take plea after being implicated in the murder of the businesswoman at her apartment in Kilimani. The two have been in police custody for weeks now after they were arrested.
As stated in Citizen Digital; In an affidavit by Investigating Officer Maxwell Otieno, the prosecution claims that there is high probability that the two accused persons will interfere with ongoing investigations if released on bail.
The investigating officer further stated that Monica Kimani’s residence as well as that Ms. Maribe have been identified to be the primary and secondary crime scenes respectively, hence, the accused persons could tamper with the ongoing probe.
Here are some reactions…
I gues this case might end nowhere with the withdrawal of justice lesit,rememba state officers visited jowi at kilimani cells, jacque maribe was bared from recording statement without her lawyer katwa kigen,katwa was a lawyer of at ICC,jacob juma $ Chris msando were assasinated
— georgenzambu@gmail.com (@Georgenzambugm1) October 15, 2018
Justice Jessie Lessit withdraw herself from hearing case on two murder suspects Joseph Irungu, Jackie Maribe citing interference from DP Ruto and his handlers to release the two suspects on bail..We are waiting to see how @dkmaraga will handle the matter cc. @UKenyatta @ODPP_KE
— NAIROBI POLITICIAN (@ItsSigar) October 15, 2018
#KTNLeo any similarities with the @IntlCrimCourt , judges recuse, witnesses disappear, case collapses
— Ben (@benalfoti) October 15, 2018
@ODPP_KE @DCI_Kenya is their a possibility that INFLUENTIAL personalities might interfere with the serious criminal case of #JackieMaribe& Jowie? Why has Justice Jessie Lessit withdrawn from this case?? #justiceformonicakimani is all we want
— Mhenga Sinji (@cmajau_) October 15, 2018
Why has justice Jessie Lessit quit the Maribe case??Is state trying to interfere with the case
— Oscar pentium (@Oscarpentium) October 15, 2018