Emotions ran high at the High Court on Monday as Sarah Wairimu, the widow of slain Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, broke down after investigators played video footage showing the recovery of Cohen’s body from his Kitisuru residence.
The proceedings formed part of the ongoing murder trial in which Wairimu is facing charges over Cohen’s death in 2019. She has denied the charges.
As the footage was shown in court, Wairimu became visibly emotional and was unable to continue watching. The presiding judge briefly adjourned the session to allow proceedings to resume later.
The court heard testimony from former Parklands OCPD James Muribo and homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who recounted events leading up to Cohen’s disappearance.
Muribo told the court that months before his death, Cohen had reported an alleged assault matter to police involving Wairimu.
According to the officer, Cohen visited Parklands Police Station in February 2019 to record a statement and submit medical documents in support of his complaint.
“He came and we recorded his statement and the P3 form,” Muribo told the court.
The former police officer further testified that investigations into the assault complaint did not progress after Cohen allegedly failed to provide additional information required by investigators.
“The arrest of Wairimu was delayed because Cohen did not cooperate with us,” he said.
Muribo also told the court that an unidentified individual later delivered a letter said to have been written by Cohen requesting police to discontinue the investigations.
He added that subsequent attempts to contact the businessman proved unsuccessful before he was later reported missing.
A key part of Monday’s proceedings involved video evidence presented by DCI officers detailing the search conducted at Cohen’s home and the eventual discovery of his body.
Investigators testified that after examining the compound, they noticed unusual cement structures near a water tank. The area had allegedly been concealed using soil and wooden materials.
“We want to show this court how we uncovered the scene. It was on the right far corner,” DCI officer Beneutychus Wanjohi told the court.
The court heard that investigators later broke through one of the structures and gained access to the tank, where Cohen’s body was eventually found.
Detectives testified that the recovery process was complex because the body had allegedly been tied with ropes and wrapped in other materials before being concealed.
Meanwhile, the court granted Wairimu permission to visit her Kitisuru home under police escort next Monday. She was also allowed access to banking services as the trial proceeds.
As proceedings continue, the court is expected to weigh witness testimony and forensic evidence in determining the facts of the case.
