Investigating officer testifies in Scarlet Wahu murder trial

Testifying before the court, Police Officer Alex Chokera, the investigating officer in the case, said detectives recovered a bra, a pair of panties and shoes suspected to belong to the deceased.

 Investigators also collected used and unused condoms, a syringe, capsules and tablets from the house.

 Chokera told the court that the body was later escorted to the City Mortuary.

In his testimony, the officer said that upon reviewing CCTV footage from the apartment building, he observed an individual running away from the premises. Further analysis of the footage revealed that a man wearing a black cap had occupied the house where the body was found.

According to Chokera, the short-stay rental owner told investigators that the unit had been booked by John Matara. 

The officer noted that the house was locked from the inside with a steel door, and no key was recovered at the scene.

The court also heard that Matara had been referred to the house owner by another businesswoman who operates short stay rentals, but had no vacancy at the time.

Chokera testified that he interviewed a watchman from a neighbouring property who reported seeing a man leaving the house in a hurry. The watchman alerted the apartment caretaker, and together they went to check the unit, where they noticed blood stains outside the door.

The watchman further indicated that the individual who left the house is believed to have exited through the back door of the apartment.

The investigating officer told the court that while he was still at the scene, information emerged that a person linked to the matter was receiving treatment at a South B Hospital. He said he proceeded to the facility, where he made inquiries with the watchman and the nurse who was on duty.

John Matara is charged with the murder of Scarlet Wahu. The trial is ongoing.