DNA on knife and towels links John Matara to Starlet Wahu murder, court told

A government analyst has told the court that DNA recovered from a knife and towels at the murder scene matched both the deceased, Starlet Wahu, and the accused, John Matara.

While testifying, the analyst said several items collected from the scene were subjected to forensic examination.

The analyst told the court that swab samples taken from one of the items were lightly stained with blood of human origin

John Matara Ong'oa during his trial at the Milimani high court.

However, she noted that Item D, which had been collected from the scene, did not generate a DNA profile.

The analyst further testified that blood stains found on a knife produced mixed DNA results which the profiles matched both Starlet Wahu and John Matara.

Knife extracted from the scene of crime produced in court as exhibits on February 11,2026.

In addition, one of the towels recovered from the scene also generated mixed DNA profiles.

“One profile matched the deceased while the other matched the accused,” the court heard.

The witness confirmed that both towels were collected from the scene and examined at the government laboratory.

The forensic findings were presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence in the ongoing murder trial against John Matara.

John Matara Ong’oa is accused of murdering Starlet Wahu at an Airbnb apartment in South B, Nairobi, on January 4, 2024.

The prosecution alleges that the deceased was found lying in a pool of blood inside the apartment, while the Matara was later arrested at Mbagathi Hospital with multiple stab wounds.