A former employee of the late businessman Tob Cohen and his wife, Sarah Wairimu, has given the court a glimpse into the troubled relationship between the couple, recounting incidents of heated arguments and alleged physical altercations inside their Kitisuru home.
Shilindwa Shishemi, who is the tenth prosecution witness in the murder trial, continued his testimony during cross-examination, telling the High Court that Cohen and Wairimu frequently quarrelled, exchanged insults and were involved in physical confrontations.
Shishemi described one incident in which he allegedly found Cohen crying and pleading for help.
“When I went outside, Tob was crying, saying, ‘Do not kill me.’ He was using other words like, ‘You stupid woman.’ They had developed a separation mood,” Shishemi told the court.
The former employee also claimed that Cohen’s use of alcohol contributed to his behaviour and further strained the couple’s relationship.
According to Shishemi, Wairimu once asked him whether he had ever suspected or seen Cohen using other drugs.
“Sarah one day asked me if I suspect or ever seen Cohen using other drugs,” he said.
Shishemi told the court that during the three months he worked for the couple, he witnessed numerous incidents inside their home.
The witness suggested that the events he observed were so many that they could fill an entire book.
“If you give me time, I can write a book about the Tob Cohen’s family. For the three months I stayed with them, I saw a lot of things,” he said.
Two other witnesses also testified before High Court Judge Diana Kavedza, including an investigating officer who recorded Wairimu’s report concerning her husband’s disappearance at Kilimani Police Station on July 31, 2019.
Cohen is believed to have been killed between July 19 and 20, 2019, and the murder case has continued for more than seven years.
The prosecution is expected to call more witnesses as the trial continues on Wednesday.
