An 86-year-old woman, Dorita Lasinder Macharia, mother of former television presenter Regina Wambui Gitau, popularly known as Regina Re, died from severe blood loss caused by multiple stab wounds to the neck. A postmortem examination conducted by Government pathologist Dr Bernard Midia on Tuesday, November 3, found two deep wounds that damaged blood vessels in her neck, leading to massive external bleeding.
The postmortem examination, which lasted more than two hours, was conducted at Lee Funeral Home in the presence of lawyers representing Ms Macharia's family and the suspects. The findings provide investigators with crucial medical evidence as detectives seek to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the killing and establish who inflicted the fatal injuries.
The examination also revealed several other sharp-force injuries, including cuts on different parts of her body, indicating the extent of the violence inflicted on the deceased. Dr Midia stated that the injury consisted of multiple stab wounds to the neck with injury to the blood vessels, which led to severe external bleeding.
The late Ms Macharia was found dead in a pool of blood inside her home in Loresho, Nairobi, on the night of October 30, with a deep wound on her neck. Her death has triggered investigations involving four suspects, including her daughter, Regina Re, who is a former television presenter. The other suspects are her granddaughter, Thandie Malaika Wanjiku Gitao, her son Alton Jimmy Macharia, and Immanuel Waigwe Munyeki.
On Monday, November 2, Kibera Law Courts Magistrate Barbara Akinyi allowed detectives to detain the four suspects at Gigiri Police Station for 10 days as investigations continue. The prosecution, through Faith Musoma, had sought 15 days, arguing that investigators needed additional time to retrieve and analyse CCTV footage from the Loresho estate, record statements from witnesses, conduct forensic examinations, and obtain the suspects' mobile phone call data records.
According to the affidavit presented to court, preliminary investigations had established that Ms Macharia had disagreed with her granddaughter on the night of the incident. The elderly woman allegedly confronted her granddaughter after finding her in a compromising situation with her boyfriend and ordered them and other visitors to leave the house.
The matter is scheduled for mention on November 12. Under Section 203 of the Penal Code, murder is committed when a person, with malice aforethought, causes the death of another through an unlawful act or omission. The suspects have not been convicted of any offence and remain entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence as detectives pursue the investigation.
Key points
- Regina Re and three others have been detained for 10 days as investigations into her mother's murder continue.
- The postmortem examination found multiple stab wounds to the neck, causing severe blood loss.
- The suspects are accused of murder under Section 203 of the Penal Code.
