Mom Of 2 Slain; Dad Charged

LYNN, Mass. -- A 28-year-old father was in Lynn District Court Wednesday, charged with the stabbing death of the mother his two children.

Patrick Waweru, 28, of Lynn, is charged in connection with the stabbing of Esther Kinyanjui, 31, the mother of his children.

Video: Relatives Speak Out

The victim's sister, Margaret Kinyanjui, 27, was also injured in the attack and the family was speaking out at the courthouse.

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that Esther Kinyanjui was hiding inside her sister's apartment at 4 Kingsley Terrace when her estranged boyfriend broke in. He had allegedly made threats to kill in the past.

Kinyanjui was stabbed in the basement apartment with her youngest child nearby. Her sister and mother tried to stop the attack.

"I tried to hold the knife and I was cut here. Then he got that knife and then ... do that," Ruth Kinyanjui said, making a gesture of a knife being drawn across the throat.

"She was the most loving person. She was helping all of us. Myself, my mother, the children. She loved her two children very much. She obviously loved the father of the children and that's why she was always covering for him," Margaret Kinyanjui said.

Family said the pair had a long history of domestic violence dating back until at least 2000. They said Esther would often bail him out after he hurt her, but she moved to Delaware five months ago in an attempt to get away from Waweru. She apparently was lured back, this time to her death.

Waweru pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnapping, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and six counts of armed assault in a dwelling and home invasion. He was ordered held without bail and sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for observation.