Woman arraigned in court over husband's murder

Pauline Mukira at the Shanzu magistrate’s court where she was charged with the murder of her husband, Alloyce Matata, yesterday. The court granted the investigating officer 14 days to finalise investigations. [PHOTO: GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD

A woman accused of killing her husband was yesterday arraigned in a Mombasa court.

Pauline Mukira pleaded with Mombasa Resident Magistrate Anastasia Ndungu at Shanzu Law Courts to be taken to hospital for treatment.

"I want to be taken to the hospital first before anything is done to me because I am not feeling well," she pleaded.

The suspect had initially been alleged to have chopped off her husband's private parts after a domestic quarrel in Bamburi on Saturday. According to witnesses, the two had quarreled over a loan of Sh200,000 the husband, Alloyce Matata, had borrowed three weeks ago. Pauline had accused her husband of spending days with another woman away from home.

It is alleged Mukira "busted" her husband with another woman in a local bar and this led to a misunderstanding that degenerated into violence.

Police said the two went home but got into a fight that led to the death of the husband. Initial reports indicated Mukira chopped of Alloyce's genitals, but police discounted this, saying the man's genitals were intact. They said Alloyce was stabbed in a vein in the left side of the groin, leading to heavy bleeding.

 State lawyer Nina Ngina applied for her detention for 14 days, saying police need that time to investigate the matter.

Inspector Samuel Kinuthia, who is investigating the case, yesterday told the court that detectives need 14 days to investigate.

Mukira looked restless as the police officer read the affidavit detailing the reasons for seeking to detain her for 14 days. She complained that she was unwell and wanted to be taken to the hospital.

The magistrate ordered the police to ensure she is taken to hospital for immediate check-up.

The woman claims her husband picked a quarrel with her in their matrimonial home after she had fished him from a bar where he was with another woman.

The court ordered she be taken to the High Court on March 16 to be charged with murder.