‘She stabbed me multiple times’: John Matara tells court he did not kill Starlet Wahu
John Matara, currently on trial for the murder of socialite Starlet Wahu, testified in his own defense regarding their relationship and the events of their final meeting. He claimed he had no role in her death and described the evening as a planned encounter at an Airbnb.
Why it matters
The case has garnered significant public attention in Kenya due to the high-profile nature of the victim and the violent circumstances surrounding her death.
John Matara, who is facing trial for the alleged murder of socialite Starlet Wahu, on Thursday gave the court an account of his relationship with the deceased and the events leading to their final meeting in January 2024.
Testifying in his defence, Matara told the court that he first met Wahu around July or August 2023 after the two had arranged a sexual encounter. He said they met at Sankara Hotel in Westlands, where they spent the night together.
Matara said he paid Wahu Ksh.35,000 for the encounter, as had allegedly been agreed beforehand.
He told the court that they later met again at the same hotel, where they drank, spent time together and had sex. On that occasion, he said, he paid her Ksh.20,000 and remained with a Ksh.15,000 balance that he promised to settle during their next meeting.
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