LAWRENCE – Jurors in the trial of Patrick Waweru, the Lynn man charged with luring his ex-girlfriend from Delaware and then allegedly stabbing her to death in 2007 in front of their two young children, will visit the murder site this morning.Waweru, also known as “Mwangi,” who last lived at 4 Kingsley Terrace in Lynn, went on trial this week in Lawrence Superior Court for the stabbing death of Esther W. Kinyanjui.Kinyanjui, a 31-year-old registered nurse, was repeatedly stabbed to death at her sister’s home at 130 Adams St. in Lynn, on Oct. 15, 2007.Kinyanjui’s sister, Margaret, was also struck on the head with a 2-x-4 board by Waweru during the attack and their mother was attacked at knifepoint as Kinyanjui’s two children watched.Assistant District Attorney Kate B. MacDougall began introducing evidence this week to the 14-person jury. Only 12 jurors will actually deliberate the fate of Waweru after all the evidence from both sides has been introduced.The jury comprised of seven women and seven men will leave Lawrence this morning and tour the Adams Street home where the murder occurred as well as Waweru’s apartment on Kingsley Terrace where he was arrested following the incident.Defense lawyer Russell C. Sobelman is not disputing the fact that his client committed the fatal stabbing. He will focus on an insanity defense of diminished capacity, meaning that at the time of the incident Waweru could not conform his conduct to the requirement of the law due to mental issues.Sobelman is expected to put forth a number of medical expert witnesses who will corroborate his theory.MacDougall will argue with her own experts that Waweru was stable, knew exactly what he was doing and committed the murder with cruelty and atrocity.In addition to the first-degree murder charge, which carries a life sentence behind bars, Waweru is also charged with two counts of home invasion, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of reckless child endangerment and a single count of armed assault with intent to murder in connection with the case.Judge Richard E. Welch III is presiding over the trial.Waweru remains held at the Middleton Jail without bail pending the outcome of his trial.
