My relationship with Assad Khan was abusive – Maxine Wahome

• Her defence team told the court that she was often insulted and chased away
• Khan was reportedly drunk on the day of the incident
• Khan allegedly cut himself and bled profusely

As the trial over the murder of rally driver Assad Khan begins, his girlfriend Maxine Wahome who is the main suspect told a Nairobi court that the relationship was abusive.

Her defence team; Andrew Musangi, Philip Murgor and Stephen Kimathi on Tuesday made their applications before Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Bernard Ochoi

The lawyers told the court that the two lovers had a troubled relationship with the deceased victim insulting her endlessly and asking her to leave his premises in Kilimani where the incident happened.

Murgor argued the accident happened when Wahome made her way to pack her belongings and leave Khan’s house.

Wahome’s legal team also informed the court that Khan had been intoxicated the night before he was hurt. The defence further claimed that Khan cut himself and haemorrhaged heavily.

The alcohol level in his blood was 201 and could have led to his death if he had an underlying issue,” Murgor told the court.

Maxine Wahome is battling murder charges over the death of her boyfriend Assad Khan. Photo/Nairobi News

WRC DROPPING MAXINE WAHOME

Maxine Wahome who is currently battling murder charges over Khan’s death is no longer a member of Young Rally Stars Program following her removal by World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya two weeks ago.

WRC said they dropped Wahome from the programme to enable her to deal with her current court case.

“Following the recent legal developments concerning Maxine Wahome, the WRC Safari Rally Kenya has decided to release Maxine from further engagements in the Young Rally Stars program to deal with the legal developments,” the statement read.

She was in WRC’s Young Rally Stars programme together with Hamza Anwar, McRae Kimathi, and Jeremy Wahome.

ASSAD KHAN’S DEATH

Khan died in December 2022 after battling for his life in the ICU after a fight with the youthful rally driver at her home in Nairobi’s Kilimani suburbs.

Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi in February 2023 gave the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Amin Mohamed Ibrahim 15 days to submit a report deciding whether to charge Maxine in relation to Khan’s death.

Ochoi on March 7 ruled that Wahome be charged with murder charges. She had been freed on Sh100,000 bail pending an in-depth probe into Khan’s death.

WHAT CAUSED ASSAD KHAN’S DEATH?

From preliminary findings, Khan died from severe bleeding on his knee which was cut during a fracas with his girlfriend on December 13. According to her statement, the cause of the argument was her staying out late on Monday, December 12 2022.

She told the police that Khan was unhappy when she arrived home early on Tuesday after spending Monday night out with friends. Maxine and Khan were both in a house when authorities were contacted, according to the Kileleshwa police station, in response to an assault report.

Police reports also indicate that the lovers were the only two individuals in the apartment at the time of the event. According to preliminary investigations, the two had a fight inside the home before Khan apparently tripped over a broken window pane, cutting his leg and causing severe bleeding.

The late Assad Khan and his girlfriend Maxine Wahome. Photo/CNyankundi

It was a result of their push and pull in the house. Maxine went to the bedroom and fell asleep without realising her partner was bleeding and in danger of dying. Khan managed to reach a cell phone and called his brother, who then phoned the police, after crawling from the scene of the purported fall.

His family rushed him to Avenue Hospital where he was admitted for days before passing on.

WHEN WAS MAXINE WAHOME ARRESTED?

Police arrested Maxine Wahome early on December 13. After being detained for a day on suspicion of assaulting Khan, she was eventually arraigned in court and was released on Sh100,000 cash bail after being charged with assault.

The police at the time requested that she be held for 14 days while they filed charges against her for leaving Khan with grievous injuries. However, Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Benard Ochoi turned down their request. He said there was no compelling reason by the prosecution why Wahome should be detained for 14 days.

Her defence team also requested the court to gag the media on reporting about the issue citing that she was the victim.  The court in declining the request noted that these claims weren’t substantiated.