NAIROBI, Kenya — The High Court in Kibera has convicted a former estate caretaker for the murder of his girlfriend and their three-month-old baby in a case that shocked Nairobi residents and remained in court for eight years.
Justice Dr. Kavedza found William Masika Tasika guilty on two counts of murder, ruling that prosecutors had proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judgment was delivered virtually.
Chilling events
The court heard that the killings occurred on the rainy evening of April 5, 2018, at a gated commercial compound along Ole Dume Road in the Muthangari area of Nairobi.
According to witness testimony, screams from a distressed woman were heard coming from an upper-floor office despite the heavy rain.
One of the tenants, Maureen Emali, told the court she later saw Tasika walking down the stairs while leaving behind bloody footprints.
She said the accused claimed he had been attacked by unknown people linked to a woman identified as “Mercy” before fleeing on a bicycle.
Gruesome discovery
Emergency responders and estate officials later found Mercy Andeso lying in a pool of blood near the office entrance with multiple stab wounds.
Their three-month-old daughter was discovered unconscious inside a bathroom nearby.
Investigators recovered a blood-stained knife and a hammer at the scene.
A postmortem conducted by pathologist Dr. Sylvester Maingi showed that Andeso died from severe stab wounds, while the infant died from suffocation.
The baby also had bruises around the mouth and cheeks.
Attempt to evade arrest
The prosecution told the court that Tasika later contacted his employer seeking money for medical treatment.
Police officers then organised a trap to lure him back to the compound.
Upon arrival, the accused allegedly attempted to escape by running towards a nearby river ditch before officers arrested him.
Investigators said he had visible injuries at the time of arrest.
The court also heard that call data analysis placed Tasika as the last person seen with the deceased before the killings.
Self-defence claim rejected
In his defence, Tasika claimed he acted in self-defence during a domestic dispute.
He alleged that Andeso attacked him with a knife during an argument and that her injuries occurred during a struggle.
However, Justice Kavedza rejected the explanation, saying the nature and severity of the injuries were inconsistent with self-defence.
The judge further noted that the accused failed to explain how the infant was suffocated.
“The death of the infant by suffocation was wholly incompatible with a sudden struggle,” the court ruled.
Court cites malice aforethought
The judge also pointed to Tasika’s attempt to flee the scene and evade arrest as evidence of guilt.
The court ruled that the repeated use of a knife targeting vital organs demonstrated clear malice aforethought.
The conviction now brings to a close one of the most disturbing domestic murder cases handled by the Kibera High Court in recent years.
Sentencing is expected at a later date.
