Businessman Antony Kariuki is being haunted by “Come Help Me sleep” text message that late Monica Kimani send him before she was slaughtered in her apartment.
The lifeless body of Monica Kimani was discovered at around 1pm on September 20th, 2018 at her Luciane Apartments house on Kitale Lane off Denis Pritt road.
The late businesswoman was found dead in a bathtub with her throat slit, Joseph Irungu alias Jowie and his then lover Jacque Maribe were arrested in connection with the murder.
Monica Kimani murder inquest resumed on Tuesday September 28th 2021 at Milimani Law Courts, with one witness tasked with explaining his relationship with the late businesswoman.
Businessman Antony Kariuki received a message from Monica on the night she died saying, “come help me sleep.”
Appearing before Justice Grace Nzioka, Kariuki said he and Kimani were “just friends.” He found the message strange coming from a person he’d known for less than a month.
Joseph Irungu’s lawyer Hassan Nandwa pressed the businessman on whether he was aware about her romantic relationships.
“Could you be knowing whether the message sent to you by Monica Kimani led to her killing? And, did you know that she might have been cohabiting with another man, who was provoked by the message?” posed the lawyer.
Kariuki said he was unaware, and when asked how he would react were it his lover receiving such a message, he admitted he would confront her.
The court heard that the two met on August 25, 2018 at a dowry ceremony of his friend Willis.
After the event, they met up in the company of some friends in Juja, where Kariuki learnt that Monica ran a family business in South Sudan.
Kariuki met Monica for the second time at her house, she invited him to her house and they talked business for about 45 minutes before leaving.
On September 19, 2018, Kariuki met Kimani at her home around 9:20 pm. He was not asked for his credentials, as he had provided them during his previous visit.
“Monica came down to where I had parked, hugged me and told me she was in a hurry with two visitors in her house, a Lebanese and a security guard from State House,” Kariuki testified.
The businessman said he proceeded home after the short met with Monica and that at around 11 pm he received a “come help me sleep” text from the late businesswoman.
Kariuki texted back telling Monica that he would go see her the next day. However, the following day his calls and text messages to her went unanswered.
Kariuki was later informed of Monica Kimani’s death by their mutual on September 21, a day after her body was discovered in her apartment.
“I enquired what happened and I was informed that she was murdered. I never attended the burial as I had other engagements in Sotik,” said Kariuki.
Related: Jowie Irungu Might Be Heading To Remand Prison Soon For Violating Bail Conditions
