Two witnesses testified Tuesday in the murder trial of John Matara Ong’oa, accused of killing 24-year-old socialite Starlet Wahu in South B, Nairobi, with forensic evidence linking him directly to the crime scene.
The Milimani High Court heard that DNA samples from both the deceased and the accused were found on a knife and a towel recovered from the Papino Apartments unit where the murder occurred. T
he prosecution, led by Della Wilbey, presented Government Chemist Emily Oporo and arresting officer Horace Arwa to strengthen their case.
Starlet Wahu met 34-year-old Matara through an online dating platform called BedEscort on January 1, 2024. They agreed to meet in person, and on January 3, Matara picked her up at around 7 pm at Papino Apartments, a short-term rental in South B, where they had booked a room for the night.
CCTV footage, admitted as evidence, showed the pair entering the apartment in good spirits. Hours later, a security guard spotted Matara leaving the building wearing blood-soaked trousers and carrying a towel, raising suspicion.
When security and the apartment owner forced entry, they discovered Wahu’s body lying in a pool of blood, showing signs of a violent struggle.
Police recovered a knife, HIV test kits, a used condom, and other items at the scene. A post-mortem confirmed that Wahu had suffered stab wounds and a cut to a major vein, leading to excessive bleeding that caused her death.
Emily Oporo, the Government Chemist, testified that DNA profiles from both Wahu and Matara were found on the knife believed to be the murder weapon and the towel retrieved from the apartment.
Arresting officer Horace Arwa described the sequence of events following the incident. He said he was called to the scene after two women reported finding a woman lying in a pool of blood at Papino Apartment house number Y32.
“I immediately rushed to the scene, where I found the body of a woman lying naked in a pool of blood, who was later identified as Starlet Wahu,” Arwa told the court.
He said he then began tracing the suspect, who had been seen near South B Hospital carrying a blood-soaked towel. Upon arrival, he was informed Matara had been referred to Mbagathi Hospital. At Mbagathi, the officers found the suspect being treated by two male nurses, with his clothes soaked in blood and a white towel wrapped around his waist.
Arwa said he asked Matara about Wahu’s killing. “Matara admitted to having a scuffle with her and stated that he stabbed her on the left thigh.” The officer added that further questioning was delayed while Matara received medical care.
After Matara was discharged, he was formally arrested alongside Andrew Nyongesa, who allegedly accompanied him to the hospital. Arwa also booked Matara’s blood-stained clothing as exhibits, which were presented during his testimony.
The trial, which has attracted significant public attention due to the profile of the deceased, continues as the prosecution builds its case with witness and forensic evidence.
