A woman is battling charges that she fatally stabbed her mother 15 times leading to her death.
February 23, 2014, Ms Esther Kanuri was brutally killed by unknown person(s) at her home in Kihuyo village, Nyeri Town.
Her lifeless body was found by her husband, Michael Kanuri, lying in a pool of blood in her adopted daughter’s bedroom.
Bernadette Njoki Gachinga, 33, was adopted by Esther Wangari Kanuri at the age of three months after being dumped by her biological mother.
Prime suspect
Ms Njoki turned out to be the prime suspect in the murder. It is alleged that she attacked her foster mother while she was taking tea in her living room and stabbed her more than 15 times in the neck, chest and stomach.
She reportedly then dragged her dead foster mother’s body into her bedroom and locked the door from inside.
“I will kill someone!”
The prosecution additionally informed the court that two days before committing the murder, Ms Njoki had sent her pastor, Mr George Gichure Mwangi, a text message saying she was angry and would kill someone.
“I now prefer having the devil I know than a fake angel … ungrateful parents … I will make my parents’ life hell on earth. The demons in me are furious and uncontrollable … I will kill anyone who crosses my path,” the message reads.
Heard news of mother’s death on social media
Ms Njoki maintained that she was not at home during the gruesome murder of her foster mother. She says she got to learn of her demise from social media.
“While I was in the pub, four men came in and said they were looking for the woman who killed her mother. I went behind the club and started smoking bhang.
Later, at around 7pm, I left for Nyeri Town and saw some three men following me. I escaped and ran to the police station,” Ms Njoki, a mother of one, said.
Unbothered
But the prosecution asked her why she never went home upon learning of her mother’s death through the media.
“The accused continued drinking alcohol despite getting the shocking news. She did not call anybody back home to confirm the report. She was never bothered,” Ms Gicheha said.
The case will continue in March, 27.