By Samantha Jones-
Keziah Macharia, a 41-year-old mother, broke down in tears as she faced charges of murdering her four-year-old son, Kobi Macharia Dooly.
The distressing incident unfolded on December 20 when Kobi was found in his cot with multiple cuts.
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During the court appearance on Thursday, Macharia, dressed in a grey sweatshirt, appeared via video link from Bronzefield prison. Kobi’s friends and family attended the hearing as they grappled with the devastating loss.
Macharia, visibly emotional, spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth. Prosecutor Louise Oakley outlined the case details, causing the accused to sob throughout the hearing. The tragic circumstances surrounding the case have left the community in shock and sorrow.
The events leading up to Kobi’s tragic demise unfolded when police received a 999 call on the evening of December 20, expressing concerns for the child’s welfare. Kobi’s father, Ben Dooly, who had separated from Macharia approximately a year earlier, raised the alarm.
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Within minutes of the distress call, officers forced entry into Macharia’s residence on Montague Road in Hackney at 10.59 pm. They discovered Kobi in his cot with multiple ‘sharp force’ injuries. Rushed to the Royal London Hospital, Kobi succumbed to his injuries at 16 minutes past midnight on December 21.
While a confirmed cause of death is pending, it is suspected that Kobi suffered fatal ‘sharp force’ injuries, including one to the front of the neck and another to the upper left chest.
Macharia was promptly arrested at her residence and charged with murder on December 22. The court proceedings were emotionally charged as the gravity of the accusations weighed heavily on both the accused and the attendees.
Judge Lynn Tayton established a case timetable, scheduling a plea and trial preparation hearing for March 21. A trial before a High Court judge is provisionally set to commence on November 4, lasting up to 10 days.
Kobi’s father, Mr. Dooly, released a poignant statement before Christmas, expressing the profound loss: “With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to Kobi, you will be so dearly missed. The joy and laughter you brought to the world has been taken far too soon.
We will be thinking of you day and night for eternity until we meet you again.”
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