Jowie Irungu dons flashy tuxedo during first hearing of Monica Kimani murder trial

Joseph Irungu alias Jowie on Tuesday appeared in court alongside Citizen TV presenter Jacque Maribe for the first hearing of the Monica Kimani murder trial.

He opted for a formal look in what appeared to be a tuxedo complete with a gentleman's signature bow tie. His previously shabby overgrown facial hair was replaced with a chin strap style beard cut.

An equally polished Jacque Maribe wore a white jacket and kept her long braids neatly tied at the back of her head.

Jacque Maribe and Joseph Irungu during first day of Monica Kimani murder trial. Jowie donned a flashy tuxedo Pulse Live Kenya

Trial scientists and legal experts have argued that how a suspect presents himself in court may have an influence on how the court eventually rules on their case.

Blogger Dennis Itumbi was also present at the court in a three-piece suit and a bow tie as well.

Monica Kimani may have died of starvation - Jowie Irungu's lawyer

Photos of the scene where Monica Kimani's body was found were presented in court on Tuesday and an expert witness was present to interpret what the injuries on her body suggested.

"The body belonged to a 28-year-old, in a wet, blood stained maroon and white bed cover. She was dressed in a blue and green free flowing dress," a pathologist who carried out an autopsy on the late Monica told the court.

He asserted that Monica died as a result of excessive bleeding through the neck wound inflicted by a sharp object "used correctly".

Jowie Irungu dons flashy tuxedo during first hearing of Monica Kimani murder trial Pulse Live Kenya

Lawyers defending Jowie and Maribe suggested that her cause of death may have been different from what the pathologist had claimed.

"Did you open her esophagus to ascertain the food Monica took that day? Did you open her stomach? Could we suggest that the cause of her death was because there was no food in the stomach?" they posed.

To which the pathologist replied: "There was bleeding, dead body does not bleed. She had a visibly slit throat and blood oozing from her nose."