NAIROBI, Kenya – Former rally champion Maxine Wahome has been acquitted of the murder of her boyfriend and fellow rally driver Asad Khan after the High Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a case requiring her to defend herself.

Justice Lilian Mutende on Tuesday found that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not meet the legal threshold needed to sustain the murder charge and discharged Wahome under Section 210 of the Criminal Procedure Code, effectively bringing the high-profile criminal trial to an end.

The case stemmed from an incident in December 2022 at the couple's apartment in Nairobi, where Khan sustained severe injuries during a domestic altercation. He later died while receiving treatment, prompting the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to upgrade an initial assault investigation to a murder charge.

During the trial, the prosecution called several witnesses in an attempt to prove that Wahome unlawfully caused Khan's death. However, the court ruled that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish a prima facie case, meaning there was no legal basis to require the accused to present a defence.

Wahome had consistently denied responsibility for Khan's death. Through her legal team, she maintained that she was not criminally liable and had cooperated with investigators throughout the proceedings. Court records also show that she had previously been released on bond after the High Court found no compelling reasons to continue detaining her pending trial.

The case attracted widespread public attention due to the prominence of both drivers within Kenya's motorsport community.

Wahome rose to national prominence in 2022 after winning the inaugural Lioness Rally before making history at the Safari Rally Kenya, where she became the first Kenyan woman to win the WRC3 category. The achievements earned her recognition as one of the country's most promising young rally drivers before her career was interrupted by the criminal case.

Following the charges in 2023, she was removed from the Safari Rally Kenya Young Rally Stars Programme as organisers cited the ongoing legal proceedings.

Tuesday's ruling closes one of Kenya's most closely watched criminal cases involving a sports personality. The acquittal means Wahome is no longer facing any criminal liability over Khan's death unless successfully challenged through the legal process.