A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering his carer, a mother-of-four who was found with fatal injuries at a house in Birmingham.
Not Guilty Plea Entered via Video Link
David Walsh, 34, appeared via video link from HMP Birmingham on Tuesday, 6 January 2026 to formally deny killing Irene Mbugua. The defendant, who wore a prison-issue grey tracksuit for the hearing, is charged with her murder.
Walsh, of Markby Road in Winson Green, was told that his trial is scheduled to begin on 23 February 2026. The plea was entered during a short hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.
Tragic Discovery of a Mother and Carer
The victim, 46-year-old Irene Mbugua, was discovered by police officers at a property on Markby Road. Officers attended the address shortly before 1am on Monday, 23 June last year, where they found Ms Mbugua with fatal injuries to her head and face.
A single mother, Ms Mbugua had moved to the UK from Kenya to work in the care sector just two years before her death. A JustGiving page created to support her family with funeral costs described her as the "breadwinner" for her four children, who have been left without their mother.
A Family's Heartfelt Tribute
In a moving tribute released after her death, Ms Mbugua's family expressed their profound grief. "We are so lost without you and we pray for grace to face each day, mum," they said.
They remembered her "beautiful smile and hearty laughter," adding a poignant message: "Please just remind us on how to join the dots because we don’t have a map yet. Rest easy you remain in our hearts forever."
The case continues, with a trial date now fixed for late February.
