A towel, bloodstains, and CCTV: Witnesses link John Matara to murder of socialite Starlet Wahu

The murder trial of John Matara, the prime suspect in the killing of socialite Starlet Wahu, continued on Tuesday with gripping testimony from key witnesses, shedding light on the dramatic events that led to his arrest.

Testifying before the court, Anthony Wafula recounted how a simple act of kindness pulled him into a murder investigation.

On the night of January 3, 2024, Wafula received a distress call from Matara’s sister Deborah, a colleague of his, urging him to rush to South B Hospital, where her brother had been taken after being stabbed. Since she was far away and he lived nearby, he agreed to assist.

Upon arrival, Wafula found Matara lying on a hospital bed, his wounds already dressed. However, doctors informed him that the facility lacked the necessary resources to treat him and referred him to Mbagathi Hospital. Wafula facilitated the transfer.

At Mbagathi Hospital, Matara was taken to the emergency room for further treatment. Since it was late, Wafula decided to stay at the hospital instead of heading home—unaware of the shocking twist that awaited him.

Two hours later, the night took an unexpected turn. Three police officers arrived, declaring Matara a murder suspect. It was only then that Wafula realized what was happening.

During cross-examination, the court heard that at the time of his hospitalization, Matara was wearing only a towel tied around his waist.

Another key witness, a security guard, testified that he saw a man leaving an apartment wearing only a towel over his shoulders. On closer inspection, he noticed that Matara’s trousers had blood stains.

Alarmed, the guard reported the incident to the apartment caretaker, who suggested they check the CCTV footage to determine where the man had come from.

"The footage showed he had come from the fourth floor, and we also saw blood stains leading to door number Y32," the court heard.

Together with another individual, identified as Gitau, they decided to contact the owner of the apartment, as the door was locked.

"When the door was finally opened, we found a woman lying on the floor in a pool of blood," the witness testified. 

The guard identified John Matara as the person he saw on the fateful night.