Lady Justice Grace Nzioka has opted to delay the sentencing of Joseph Irungu, also known as Jowie, who was convicted for the murder of Nairobi businesswoman Monica Kimani.
The decision came as a result of the belated submission of documents by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the victim’s family, and Jowie’s legal representative.
Justice Nzioka clarified that the ODPP filed its submissions, including a pre-sentencing report, the previous evening, while the victim’s family submitted their documents on Friday morning.
Consequently, due to these delays, Jowie’s legal team did not have adequate time to review and respond to the submissions presented by the prosecution and Kimani’s family.
Acknowledging these circumstances, Jowie’s legal representatives requested additional time to thoroughly examine the submissions and prepare their response.
Honoring their plea, Justice Nzioka instructed them to submit all documents by the close of business on Monday, March 11. The sentencing for Jowie is now scheduled for Wednesday, March 13.
Addressing the adjournment, Justice Nzioka expressed her role as the orchestrator of the proceedings, recognizing the inconvenience caused and offering an apology. She emphasized the importance of bringing closure to the case on the designated judgment day, hoping to avoid further postponements.
