By Peter Ochieng
Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie has filed a notice of appeal against death sentence, handed to him by High Court judge, Grace Nzioka on Wednesday.
He was convicted after being found guilty of the murder of businesswoman Monica Kimani, in Nairobi in September 2018.
As par a notice by his lawyer Andrew Muge, Jowie says he intends to challenge the death sentence at the Court of Appeal.
“Take notice that Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie appeals to the Court of Appeal against the decisions of the Honourable Lady Justice Grace Nzioka delivered in open court at Milimani, Nairobi on the 9th day February 2024 and in her written judgment dated 9th February 2024 whereby the Appellant was convicted of murder and sentenced to death on 13th March 2024,” court documents read in part.
“The appeal is against the conviction and sentence.”
In her verdict on Wednesday, Lady Justice Nzioka said Kimani’s murder was intentional.
“It was not a defensive act. It was not out of provocation. It was planned, intended and executed,” said the judge.
“Based on what I have said, I have ordered that the first accused before this court, Joseph Kuria Irungu alias Jowie, shall suffer death as provided for the offence of murder under section 204 of the penal code of Kenya. That is the order of the court.”
Justice Nzioka also indicated that the court had established that Jowie was violent.
“It was the evidence of the guards at Royal Park estate where he (Jowie) was staying that he would not allow himself to be searched. He would brandish a gun and say ‘I work at State House’ and just drive off. It is the evidence of the brother of the deceased that at one time during the hearing of this case he (Jowie) blocked his car.”
Jowie was charged alongside his ex-girlfriend Jacque Maribe. She was acquitted of murder.
