Lawyers representing Sarah Wairimu Cohen have challenged the manner in which detectives handled the retrieval of slain Dutch businessman Tob Cohen’s body from a septic tank, arguing that the process may have compromised crucial evidence.

During proceedings, defence lawyer Christine Kariuki, appearing alongside Bravin Bowry, cross-examined Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer Peter Wanjohi, who documented the crime scene before and after Cohen’s body was recovered.

Kariuki questioned the officer’s decision to involve a civilian in retrieving the body from the septic tank, arguing that the individual lacked the necessary training to handle such a sensitive exercise. She suggested that the involvement of the civilian could have tampered with critical exhibits at the scene.

In response, Wanjohi told the court that the civilian’s participation did not compromise the integrity of the investigation. He explained that the individual had been authorized to be at the scene and acted strictly under the direction and supervision of investigators throughout the recovery operation.

The officer further took the court through video footage of the search and recovery exercise, identifying the individuals captured during the operation and explaining their respective roles.

Wanjohi testified that those seen in the footage were predominantly police officers securing the crime scene, DCI detectives conducting the investigation, lawyers representing Sarah Wairimu Cohen, and legal counsel for the victim’s family.

He maintained that the crime scene remained under tight security throughout the search and recovery mission, insisting that no unauthorized persons accessed the area or interfered with the investigations.

The testimony came as the court continued hearing evidence in the long-running murder trial surrounding the death of Tob Cohen, whose body was recovered from a septic tank at his Kitisuru home in September 2019 after he had been reported missing.