Man suspected to have dumped slain business woman's body at dam remanded

Michael Githae Mathenge when he appeared at Kiambu law courts yesterday in connection tot the death of Mary Wambui Kamangara. Kiambu Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Atambo granted the police seven more days they were seeking too continue holding the suspect at Juja Police Station. [PHOTO: KAMAU MAICHUHIE].

Police have been allowed to detain a man they say was hired to collect and dump the body of businesswoman Mary Wambui last week.

The officers told a Kiambu court they had evidence that Michael Githae Mathenge was in constant communication with one of the suspects on the day Wambui was killed and her body dumped near a dam in Juja. The officers asked the court to give them time to complete investigations.

Detectives said they had reason to believe Mathenge visited the scene of murder.

According to police, a CCTV footage showed he was at Four Ways Junction Estate, where Wambui is believed to have been killed.

Wambui’s husband Joseph Kori Karue and his lover Judy Wambui Mungai, whose house the victim reportedly visited before her death, are in custody.

Investigating officer Cornelius Arwasa told Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Atambo they needed to continue holding the man, as they believed he took part in the  woman’s killing.

Mr Arwasa said Mathenge was in communication with Ms Mungai on the night of January 26 up to 3am, and the following day went to Juja, where Wambui’s body was found.

“We intend to take blood samples from the suspect to compare with blood stains taken f rom the house of Judy Wambui. We have also recovered his mobile phone, but we are yet to subject it to forensic examination to retrieve communication that took place during the period of the incident,” Araswa said.

Wambui’s body, which bore deep injuries to the head and hand was found at Courtesy Dam near Mugutha Estate on January 27.

Araswa said they were yet to forward Mathenge’s cell number to Safaricom for analysis. They also want to take the suspect for mental assessment. “Releasing the suspect may jeopardise investigations. We intend to arrest more suspects and recover more exhibit, including a motor vehicle suspected to have been used,” he said.

Mathenge’s lawyer David Nyamu opposed the application, saying police had not given enough reason to detain his client. “The suspect’s right to liberty is at stake. He has not been advised on the crime he is likely to be charged with. The seven days the detective is seeking are not necessary. He ought to be released on a cash bail,” he said.

Prosecution counsel Christine Mbevi supported the application by the police, saying detaining Mathenge would enable police to conclude investigations.