Starlet Wahu Murder: DPP Presents Last Witness as Case Nears Closure
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has moved to conclude the high-profile murder trial of John Matara, signaling the end of a grueling evidentiary phase that has gripped the nation for over two years.
The prosecution is scheduled to present its sixteenth and final witness on May 14, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the quest for justice for 24-year-old socialite Starlet Wahu.
The case, which centers on the brutal events of January 3, 2024, at the Papino Apartments in South B, Nairobi, is nearing a critical juncture. Justice Alexander Muteti recently issued summons for the final witness, a medical professional from Mbagathi Hospital,after they failed to appear during the previous session on April 29.
According to official communications regarding the upcoming court date:
“The DPP has called 16 witnesses in court and intends to close his case on the 14th May 2026, after a doctor from Mbagathi Hospital testifies.”
Starlet Wahu Murder: A Night of Horror and the Long Road to Justice
The tragedy began when Starlet Wahu, the younger sister of a well-known city pastor, checked into an Airbnb with the accused. CCTV footage and witness accounts from that night initially showed the pair entering the premises together. However, the scene discovered the following morning was one of absolute carnage.
A security guard at the complex reported seeing Matara leave the building alone the next day, wearing blood-stained clothing and appearing visibly distressed and injured. This observation prompted the house owner to check the unit, where they discovered Wahu’s lifeless, naked body in the living room. The state of the apartment, described by investigators as “disturbed,” suggested a violent struggle had taken place before the young woman succumbed to her injuries.
Starlet Wahu Murder : Forensic Revelations
Autopsy reports later confirmed the harrowing details of Wahu’s final moments. The postmortem examination revealed that she had been strangled and suffered a deep, fatal wound to her thigh that severed a major vein. The cause of death was officially ruled as hemorrhagic shock due to excessive bleeding. At the crime scene, police recovered a knife believed to be the murder weapon, alongside two HIV test kits and a used condom—items that have remained central to the prosecution’s narrative of the events leading up to the killing.
Starlet Wahu Murder: Two Years of Legal Battles
Since his arrest in early 2024, John Matara has remained in custody. The DPP successfully argued against his release on bail, citing the gravity of the offense and the potential risk to the public. Over the last 28 months, the trial has meticulously pieced together the final hours of Wahu’s life, featuring testimony from forensic experts, neighbors, and first responders.
The conclusion of the prosecution’s case on May 14 will shift the burden to the defense, as Matara will be required to present his version of events or argue that the state has not met the threshold for a conviction.
After May 14, the court will determine if there is a case to answer, moving one step closer to a final verdict in a case that has come to symbolize the dangers of “Airbnb dating” and violence against women in the city.
