Catholic Nun found not guilty of murder
Sr. Caroline Kanjiru, a member of the Nazareth Sisters of the Annunciation (NSA) in Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Meru, has been cleared of all charges by a Kenyan court after being the main suspect in the tragic murder of her colleague, Sr. Anselmina Karimi, on October 12.
On Tuesday, October 28, the court in Meru determined that there wasn’t enough evidence to link Sr. Caroline to the crime and officially designated her as a State witness in the ongoing investigation.
Just a couple of weeks earlier, on October 14, Senior Resident Magistrate Evalyne Ndegwa had ordered that Sr. Caroline remain in custody, emphasizing the gravity of the alleged crime, the necessity of completing the investigation, and concerns for her safety.
During the court session on October 28, an officer from Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) informed the Meru court that no evidence had been found connecting Sr. Caroline to the murder of her fellow sister, Sr. Anselmina.
“I took over the investigations from the DCI Imenti North and conducted fresh inquiries. We carried out homicide investigations, analyzed call data records, and interviewed witnesses. From this investigation, we have concluded that the respondent is not connected to the murder,” Patrick Wachira reportedly stated in court.
As reported on October 28, Senior Principal Magistrate Susan Ndegwa approved the application and released Sr. Caroline.
The investigation revealed that Sr. Anselmina suffered severe head injuries from a blunt object, leading to fatal bleeding in her brain. She also had a broken neck and injuries on her hands and legs, suggesting she was tied up and tortured before her death.
According to police reports, it is believed that Sr. Anselmina was lured out of her home at Nkabune Children’s Home, a facility under Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Meru, before being murdered, with her body later returned to the premises.
The murder is thought to have occurred sometime between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Investigators have found that Karimi’s phone made several calls around midnight on Sunday, October 12.
Catholic Nun found not guilty of murder
