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Kenyan rally driver Maxine Wahome acquitted of boyfriend's murder
Kenya's High Court acquitted rally driver Maxine Wahome of the murder of her boyfriend, Asad Khan, after Justice Lilian Mutende ruled the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. The case originated from a domestic altercation on 12 December 2022 in Nairobi, where Khan suffered a deep leg cut and later died of complications, including septicemia. Prosecutors presented circumstantial evidence – that only the couple were present in the apartment and a range of digital material – but the court found it insufficient for a murder conviction. Wahome's defence argued the injuries occurred when Khan kicked through a glass balcony door, and she herself was assaulted during the incident. The judge ordered her acquittal under Section 306(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Lawyer Steve Kimathi celebrated the decision, calling the prosecution unwarranted and indicating a possible civil action against the state for Wahome's arrest and public exposure. The ruling has sparked criticism of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions' charging decisions in Kenya.
Entities
Asad Khan · Directorate of Public Prosecutions (Kenya) · Justice Lilian Mutende · Kenyan High Court · Maxine Wahome
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The acquittal has prompted scrutiny of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions' charging decisions. nairobilawmonthly.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Defense argued Khan's injuries were caused by kicking through a glass balcony door and that he died of complications, including septicemia. nairobileo.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Prosecutors relied on circumstantial evidence, including that only Wahome and Khan were present in the apartment. nairobileo.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Lawyer Steve Kimathi said the case should never have been brought and may consider legal action against the state. nairobilawmonthly.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Maxine Wahome was acquitted of the murder of her boyfriend Asad Khan by Kenya's High Court. nairobileo.co.ke · nairobilawmonthly.com · ntvkenya.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The incident occurred on 12 December 2022 in Nairobi when Asad Khan suffered a deep leg cut during a domestic altercation. nairobileo.co.ke
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Justice Lilian Mutende ordered Wahome's acquittal under Section 306(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. nairobileo.co.ke
- [● 3 SOURCES] The acquittal was based on the prosecution's failure to establish a prima facie case. nairobileo.co.ke · nairobilawmonthly.com · ntvkenya.co.ke