Murder in the Masai | Episode 3, The Search Party | Podcast

Key Concepts

• Investigative Journalism: The process of in-depth reporting to uncover hidden truths, often involving public records, interviews, and on-the-ground investigation.
• Human Google Maps: A colloquial term for using word-of-mouth and local knowledge to navigate and find people in areas without formal addresses.
• Masai Elder: A respected elder within the Masai community, often possessing traditional knowledge and insights.
• Circumstantial Evidence: Evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact.
• Remand: The period during which a person is held in custody awaiting trial.
• Hearsay: Information received from other people that one cannot personally verify.
• Staged Scene: A crime scene that has been deliberately altered or created to mislead investigators.

Summary

This episode of "Murder in the Masimara" details investigative journalist Katherine Rashton's efforts to uncover new information regarding the murder of Julie Ward in Kenya. The investigation relies heavily on traditional journalistic methods, including extensive public record searches and in-person interviews, often in challenging environments.

The Challenges of On-the-Ground Investigation in Kenya

Rashton highlights the difficulties of conducting investigations in Kenya, particularly outside major cities. The absence of formal address systems necessitates the use of "human Google Maps," a method of relying on local knowledge and word-of-mouth to locate individuals. This process involves identifying regions associated with specific family names and then physically traveling to those areas to ask for directions. Information can emerge from unexpected sources, such as casual conversations with street vendors. The core principle is that once one person is found, they can provide a "thread to pull" to locate others.

The Case of David Kandulla Unchoo

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Rashton's attempt to interview David Kandulla Unchoo, the last known person to have seen Julie Ward alive. Unchoo, a former revenue clerk at Sand River Gate, initially stated he saw Julie drive off in her jeep. His involvement in the case became more prominent when John Ward, Julie's father, suspected a forged signature in the visitors' book. A handwriting expert confirmed the signature was Unchoo's, leading John Ward to consider him a suspect.

Unchoo was later arrested and charged with Julie's murder in 1999, spending four months on remand where his family claims he was tortured. The case was eventually dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Rashton interviews Unchoo at his farm, where he explains that he signed Julie's name in the visitors' book because she had not done so herself, and he was trying to keep the records accurate. He claims this "small act" caused him immense problems and led to the deaths of his wife and brother due to stress. However, Rashton struggles to understand why Unchoo did not volunteer this information to John Ward from the outset, and his assertion that there were no rumors circulating after Julie's disappearance strikes Rashton as difficult to comprehend. Rashton leaves the interview with the impression that Unchoo remains fearful of speaking openly.

The Role of Simon Ole McCulla

The investigation then shifts to James Cindio, a former senior warden in the Masimara Game Reserve who assisted in the search for Julie. Cindio expresses his belief that Simon Ole McCulla, the head ranger at the time, may have been withholding information. Cindio recounts how McCulla allegedly did not immediately distribute missing person posters provided by John Ward, keeping them in his office before eventually instructing rangers to post them. Cindio finds this puzzling in retrospect, as he initially attributed it to McCulla's desire to protect the tourism industry's image.

Cindio also discusses the discovery of Julie's remains. McCulla led one of the search parties and claimed vultures led him to the body. John Ward had always been suspicious of how quickly McCulla found the remains, believing he must have gone in a "straight line," suggesting prior knowledge of the location. A crucial detail emerges when Cindio reveals that McCulla had told the police he couldn't drive, yet he had been driving within the park. This contradiction is significant given the mystery surrounding how Julie's jeep ended up in a gully, a location John Ward believed Julie would not have driven to voluntarily, suggesting the jeep scene might have been staged.

The Masai Elder's Account

The most significant new lead presented is a story shared by James Cindio, which he had kept secret for decades. Cindio was friends with a man named Matthew (a pseudonym), who was in Simon McCulla's jeep when Julie's remains were found. According to Cindio, Matthew reported that a Masai elder approached their search party at the scene. Through translation, the elder allegedly told them that he had heard a "loud scream" the previous night and, upon investigating the following day, found "the body, complete body intact of a white girl," not dismembered parts.

Rashton acknowledges this account is hearsay with multiple degrees of separation but recognizes its potential importance. If true, it suggests the killing and dismemberment were separate events and raises questions about whether the police investigated the Masai villages. The police detective Rashton speaks to in Britain expresses frustration that this information did not surface earlier, calling it "so believable" and a "really good one" that could have made a significant difference.

The Trial of Simon Ole McCulla and Political Interference

The episode revisits the trial of Simon McCulla in 1999, where he was the fourth man accused of Julie's murder. Dane Kiami, a former journalist who covered the trial, recounts how senior court reporters were warned to restrict their reporting and specifically avoid mentioning or implicating President Daniel Arap Moi or anyone associated with him. These warnings came from imposing men who Kiami believed were acting on behalf of the Kenyan state. Kiami was advised by one of these men not to "mess it up by writing stories that and those around him do not want to hear."

John Ward was unaware of this warning. However, the name "Moi" had surfaced previously. Shortly after Julie's death, a woman approached John Ward outside a hotel and placed a note in his hand. The note, written in curly handwriting, identified "Jonathan Moi Toric," one of President Moi's sons, as "the man you were looking for." This suggests a potential connection between the President's son and the Masamara area at the time of Julie's death.

Attempting to Interview Simon McCulla

Rashton and Edwin Okthoth travel to Trans Mara West to find Simon McCulla. Despite initial difficulties in locating him, they eventually find his farm. McCulla, now in his mid-70s, is friendly and welcoming but refuses to discuss the Julie Ward case, stating it was traumatic and he desires a peaceful life. He declines to be recorded. Rashton attempts to ask him about the Masai elder story, but McCulla avoids the question, reiterating his desire not to discuss the case. He eventually asks for a lift, which Rashton interprets as a polite way to end the encounter. While driving away, Rashton records herself, noting McCulla's continued silence on the Masai elder story, which she describes as meeting the inquiry with "silence."

Unresolved Leads and Future Investigation

Rashton spends the remainder of her time in Kenya trying to corroborate the Masai elder story by speaking to other men who were in McCulla's jeep. One was unhelpful, claiming no memory, and the other, Matthew, could not be located. As Rashton departs Kenya, the lead from James Cindio remains a "thread to pull." The episode concludes by hinting at another avenue of investigation that John Ward pursued for years, which could potentially lead to Julie's killer, and previews the next episode, which will feature an interview with a man who may be a crucial witness and will discuss Jonathan Moi.

Conclusion

This episode underscores the persistent challenges and intricate nature of investigative journalism, particularly in complex cases spanning international borders and involving potential political interference. The investigation into Julie Ward's murder continues to uncover layers of secrecy and conflicting accounts, with new leads like the Masai elder's testimony offering potential breakthroughs while simultaneously highlighting the difficulty of obtaining definitive answers. The episode emphasizes the importance of pursuing even seemingly tenuous leads and the emotional toll such investigations take on all involved.