Regina Re’s mother died from severe blood loss after multiple neck stabs

By  Hilary Kimuyu

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

The 86-year-old mother of former television presenter Regina Wambui Gitau, popularly known as Regina Re, died from severe blood loss after suffering multiple stab wounds to the neck, a postmortem examination has established.

Government pathologist Dr Bernard Midia, who conducted the examination on Tuesday, November 3, said two deep wounds had damaged blood vessels in Dorita Lasinder Macharia’s neck, triggering massive external bleeding that caused her death.

The examination also revealed several other sharp-force injuries, including cuts on different parts of her body, pointing to the extent of the violence inflicted on the deceased.

“The injury consisted of multiple stab wounds to the neck with injury to the blood vessels, which led to severe external bleeding. Two deep stab wounds in the neck. There were also other sharp force injuries, cut wounds to various parts of the body,” Dr Midia said.

The postmortem was conducted at Lee Funeral Home in the presence of lawyers representing Ms Macharia’s family and the suspects. The examination lasted more than two hours, with the doctors involved in the autopsy also present.

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 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.

Detectives also told the court that the investigation file would need to be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for consideration.

The investigating officer, David Njoroge, told the court that preliminary investigations had established that Ms Macharia had disagreed with her granddaughter on the night of the incident.

According to the affidavit presented to court, 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.

Investigators alleged that a commotion followed, after which the granddaughter left but later returned and remained inside the house with her grandmother for about an hour.

The circumstances surrounding what happened during that period remain subject to investigation.

The prosecution argued that releasing the suspects could compromise the probe, particularly through possible interference with witnesses and evidence.

The defence opposed the application, questioning the justification for continued detention and arguing that some of the suspects had already recorded statements and surrendered their mobile phones to investigators.

Magistrate Akinyi granted 10 days instead of the 15 sought by the prosecution, observing that the investigation was still at an early and sensitive stage.

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. Section 206 outlines the circumstances under which malice aforethought may be established, including an intention to cause death or grievous harm.

The suspects have not been convicted of any offence and remain entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence as detectives pursue the investigation.

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