Joseph Irungu denies knowing murder victim Monica Kimani, visiting her apartment

Murder suspect Joseph Irungu alias Jowie has told the High Court that he never knew the late businesswoman Monica Kimani and never visited her city residence at Lamuria Gardens on the night she was killed.

While defending himself in the murder of Monica, Jowie told Justice Grace Nzioka that when she was killed he was not at her house but was at his house in Royal Park estate.

“I never visited Monica at her residence and l never talked to her since l did not know her. I knew his brother George Kimani,” Jowie told the court.

The suspect further said witnesses who were called by the prosecution including Lee Owen Omondi lied to the court that he was with him at Monica’s residence on the material night.

He also said that a video played in court showing a man eating Nyama choma with Monica was not him and he does not know him.

Jowie also disowned a brown short that was produced in court to be his.

“The short in court is khaki cream in colour and the short I was wearing was brown and had no blood stains,” Jowie said.

Cross-examined by state counsel Gikui Gichuhi, Jowie read the government chemist report which stated that blood stains on the short he was wearing belonged to Monica Kimani.

Another lady called Chelegat, who saw Jowie on the same night of September 19, 2018, said he was wearing a brown khaki short.

Police recovered that short from Jacque Maribe’s house where Jowie was residing at the Royal Park estate.

On September 21, 2018, Jowie said he was called by George Kimani, a brother to the deceased, to assist him highlight in the media the heinous killing of his sister at Lamuria Gardens.

Jowie confirmed to the court that he had Brian Kasaine’s gun at his house and that he used it to shoot himself.

He said that Kasaine had left the gun with him because he had a brawl with his wife.

“Kasaine brought me the gun saying he did not want to keep it in his house because of a serious difference he had with his wife. Kasaine told me his wife had gone out and did not come back and when she came back they differed,” Jowie informed the court.

He admitted that he lied to the police that he was shot by a gang.

“What did you tell the police when you went to report the shooting?” Gichuhi asked Jowie.

“l told police that l was shot by a gang,” Jowie responded.

“So it was a lie?” Gichuhi asked him.

“Yes it was a lie,” Jowie answered.

When asked where the gun was recovered from, Jowie said that it was recovered from Kasaine’s house who was their neighbour.

He also informed the court that he doesn’t own a gun.

Asked by the prosecutor where Maribe was when he shot himself, Jowie said she was in the house and came out when she heard the shot.

Jowie further denied that he killed Monica on the night of September 19, 2019.