This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
On July 18, 2019, Australian court Justice Martin Burns handed down a 10-month jail sentence to Esther Arunga, a former Kenyan TV darling, for lying about her child's death in 2014.
Arunga, who had previously told Australian police that her three-year-old son fell down the stairs, admitted to lying to protect her husband, Quincy Timberlake.
According to Australian Associated Press (AAP), Arunga misled police about the events leading to the boy's death, keeping scrutiny away from Timberlake for 26 days.
Arunga has since admitted that she found Timberlake hitting their son on the stomach in the bathroom on the night of June 17, 2014.
She reportedly told authorities that Timberlake 'threw him against the wall' saying 'there's a devil in his stomach, I have to get it out.'
Arunga also reportedly added that Timberlake had a strong arm and 'even a grown man can't survive that punch,' further stating that 'I was terrified of being alone and I felt terrible because my husband was sick as well.'
Arunga's defence lawyer, Katarina Prskalo, told the court that both Arunga and Timberlake had mental issues, and that Arunga had been brainwashed by Timberlake, who introduced her to the Finger of God church, which many perceive to be a cult.
Arunga has been released on parole.
