Late rally driver’s family want Maxine denied bail

The family of the late Asad Khan yesterday urged the High Court not to release Safari Rally driver Maxine Wahome on bail pending the hearing and determination of her murder case.

In a pre-bail report filed in court, the late Khan’s brother Adil Khan who was interviewed on behalf of the family has told justice Lilian Mutende that the two families are now worst enemies.

Adil further states that following Khan’s death, the entire family has endured a lot of pain, describing the loss of their kin as devastating.

“Everything happened so fast. One moment, the two families are all happy and celebrating in a rally and the next they are worst of enemies,” reads the report filed in court.

Love relationship

The probation officer further established that Maxine and Asad’s families are well known to each other, their convergence having been motorsport.

“The two families were aware of the love relationship between the accused and deceased,” the report reads. The report also reveals that Maxine had been in a relationship with the deceased for three years and had been staying together at Asad’s rented apartment at Oloitokitok road in Kileleshwa for one year and six months.

“Maxine and Khan were both in motorsport and spent much of their time in rallying events or preparing for the next rally event,” the probation officer informs the court. According to the report, the late Asad was married and divorced with two adult children who live in Bahrain and they maintained little contact as the divorce happened many years back when they were very young.

“The children only sent a message of condolence and have never been in touch since.”

The victim’s family opposes the request by Maxine to be released on bail expressing fear of possible interference and the likelihood of the accused being a flight risk given her social status.

But Maxine urged the court to grant her bail saying she acknowledged and understands the repercussions of any form of interference whether on the person or through proxies.

“ I have never communicated with the victims and that I have no access to the apartment we lived with the deceased where the witnesses reside,” the reports state.

Further, Maxine’s parents, James Wahome and Beverly Kabimu have expressed willingness and capability to mobilising resources to secure bond or bail for her as may be determined by the court.

Court attendance

The parents are committing to ensuring that she will honour court attendance and any other conditions that the court may impose until the matter comes to its logical conclusion. Additionally, the family will accommodate her at their Kyuna road home, “the pre-bail report reads.

Currently, Maxine is being detained at Langata Women Prison after pleading not guilty to charges of killing Khan on December 12, 2022, at their house in Kileleshwa Nairobi county.

The court will rule on whether it will grant Maxine bail tomorrow.