This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
On 7th March this year, Philip Murgor resigned as a state prosecutor, a move he has since confirmed. However, his former employer had challenged his resignation, terming it a distraction and a waste of time.
But in a ruling delivered on 3rd October 2019, High Court judge Justice Stella Mutuku cleared Murgor to represent Sarah Wairimu, the prime suspect in the murder of Dutch businessman Tob Cohen. The judge ruled that there was no conflict of interest, citing Murgor's resignation as a public prosecutor and the lack of evidence that he had represented criminal cases before the current case.
Wairimu, who has been in custody since 28th August, denied murdering Cohen when she appeared before Justice Mutuku. Her lawyer, Philip Murgor, asked the court to release her on bail, citing her prolonged detention. However, State prosecutor Catherine Mwaniki objected, fearing that Wairimu may tamper with evidence, particularly the site where Cohen's body was recovered.
Meanwhile, Peter Njoroge Karanja, a co-accused in the murder case, will be remanded at Industrial Area police station and undergo a mental assessment on 3rd October 2019.
