Former TV news anchor Jacque Maribe is not out of the woods yet as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has lodged an appeal against the High Court's ruling that acquitted her in the murder case of businesswoman Monica Kimani.

According to a notice filed by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions O.J. Omondi, the DPP's office expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment delivered by High Court judge Grace Nzioka last Friday.

"Take notice that the Republic, the intended Appellant herein, being dissatisfied with the decision of the High Court of Kenya at Nairobi, delivered in Nairobi on the 9th of February 2024, appeals to the Court of Appeal against the part of the judgment acquitting the 2nd Accused Person," reads the notice.

In her ruling, Justice Nzioka found Joseph Irungu, also known as Jowie, guilty of the murder of Monica Nyawira Kimani, who was killed on the night of September 19, 2018, at her Lamuria Gardens apartment in Nairobi.

The judge stated that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Irungu committed the crime.

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However, Maribe, who was charged alongside Irungu, was acquitted of the murder charge.

Justice Nzioka clarified that murder was not the appropriate charge against Maribe, as the evidence presented did not place her at the scene of the crime.

"There was no evidence that she had ever communicated with the deceased. The evidence that the prosecution has brought before this court on the second accused person relates to events of September 20, 2018, and that is the shooting incident," noted Justice Nzioka.

Despite her acquittal on the murder charge, the judge highlighted that Maribe had provided conflicting information regarding how Irungu sustained a gunshot wound, describing it as giving misleading information to a public servant.

The judge left the decision on further action to the discretion of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

"The office of the DPP knows their mandate. The resolve is that the prosecution did not adduce adequate evidence for this court to find the second accused person guilty of the offence of murder of Monica Nyawira Kimani on the night of 19th September 2018. The first accused person is convicted on the charge (murder) while the second accused person is acquitted of the charge," concluded Justice Nzioka.

Maribe's legal journey continues as the appeal process unfolds, leaving the final chapter of this high-profile case yet to be written.