The murder trial against Sarah Wairimu Kamotho over the killing of her late husband, Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, resumed before Lady Justice Diana Kavedza, with the prosecution calling four additional witnesses.
Among those who testified was the 17th prosecution witness, Haston Kombe, a musician and band owner at Plums Hotel, who told the court that he saw Cohen at the hotel on July 19, 2019.
Kombe said Cohen joined the evening’s entertainment and enthusiastically took to the stage with the band before later leaving the hotel.
The witness recalled Cohen repeatedly singing a song titled “Love Gone Sour”, which described a relationship that had deteriorated. He said Cohen sang a line referring to an “old woman” who treated him badly.
Kombe told the court that he later learnt through media reports that Cohen had been reported missing.
Samuel Murathimi, who was the Golf Operations Manager at Muthaiga Golf Club at the time, presented and confirmed records showing Cohen’s visit to the club on July 19, 2019. The records were admitted as documentary evidence in the prosecution’s case.
The prosecution also called Sergeant Mbalwe of Parklands Police Station, who testified about a previous assault complaint made by Cohen against his wife.
Mbalwe told the court that Cohen reported the alleged assault on February 13, 2019, initially indicating that he did not want his wife arrested before later requesting her arrest.
He further testified that on July 19, 2019, Cohen contacted him and reported that his wife was at their residence, asking police to intervene.
The matter was escalated to his superiors, who dispatched officers to the residence. However, Mbalwe said officers faced difficulties effecting the arrest after the suspect locked herself inside the house.
The officer also testified about subsequent efforts to reach Cohen, the registration of an assault case at the Kibera Law Courts on July 31, 2019, and developments following Cohen’s disappearance. He confirmed police records produced as part of the evidence.
John Mungai, a former government analyst and forensic controller, testified on the analysis of various exhibits recovered during the investigation, including samples collected from the residence, vehicles, bedrooms and a water tank.
The court heard that DNA profiles generated from several exhibits included profiles attributed to unknown male and female sources.
Mungai testified that the DNA profile obtained from the steering wheel of motor vehicle KZQ 947 belonged to an unknown male.
He further told the court that DNA profiles obtained from Cohen’s cartilage and nail samples were consistent with those of a biological sibling of Gabriella Hannah Cohen and Bernard Cohen.
Other exhibits produced mixed DNA profiles, while some did not yield DNA profiles.
The case was adjourned to October 12 and 14, 2026, when seven and five witnesses are expected to testify, respectively.
