This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
On October 16, 2019, a Mombasa court was presented with shocking testimony regarding the murder of Kenyan tycoon Jimmy Jagatram Baburam.
State witness Emmanuel Wafula, a nightguard at the Medina Palms in Watamu, revealed that he witnessed Jimmy's wife, Amina Shiraz Yacoub, and her American lover, Jacob Schmalzle, drown the businessman in the swimming pool at around 4 am on June 26th, 2015.
Wafula's testimony claimed that Schmalzle sustained an injury near his eye as Jimmy fought for his life.
Prosecutor Alexander Monda alleged that Jimmy's widow conspired with her lover to eliminate her husband after he confronted them over their secret love affair and vowed to disinherit her.
However, defense lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi dismissed Wafula's testimony, accusing Jimmy's father, David Baburam, of coaching witnesses to inherit his son's Sh500 million estate.
"He was maliciously obsessed with inheriting his son's wealth. He hired witnesses in his effort to lead the prosecution. Were it not for his effort, role, and drive, the case wouldn’t have been prosecuted," said Ahmednassir.
It was also revealed that Wafula had previously denied witnessing Jimmy's murder in two statements to the police.
Defense attorneys claimed that the deceased drowned after falling into the pool while drunk.
