This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
On September 13, 2019, Milimani High Court Judge Charles Kariuki directed the prosecution to conduct a mental health assessment on Sarah Wairimu, the estranged wife of missing Dutch national Tob Cohen, before charging her with his murder.
The charge sheet produced in court on the same day stated that Wairimu murdered Tob Chichou Cohen on the night of July 19 or July 20, 2019. However, Wairimu was not required to plead, and the prosecution was ordered to conduct the mental assessment before proceeding with the charge.
Lawyer Philip Murgor, representing Wairimu, objected to the plea-taking, stating that the prosecution had appeared in court without tangible evidence or a body of the alleged deceased. He also claimed that Wairimu had been in custody for 16 days and that the prosecution should have conducted the mental assessment earlier.
Prosecutor Catherine Mwaniki requested the court to remand Wairimu at the Industrial Area Police Station pending the mental assessment. She assured the court that the prosecution would provide whatever information they had to Wairimu's defence team.
Justice Kariuki also directed that the claims of sexual harassment by the investigating officer handling the matter be tabled before Presiding Judge Jessie Lesiit next week.
