Probe team to visit Saitoti crash site

Judge Kalpana Rawal ruled that the witness be cross-examined at the site over the distances the bodies were found relative to where the aircraft hit the ground after falling from the sky. Photo/FILE

Investigators will next week visit the helicopter crash scene where Internal Security minister George Saitoti was killed.

During the visit, they will see an eyewitness reconstruction of the June 10 accident being given.

A witness who on Thursday was giving evidence before the commission investigating the crash will continue giving evidence at the site.

Ngong CID boss Julius Emase had said that Prof Saitoti’s body was about 30 metres from the point of impact and the area where the fire had spread.

“The rest were within the circumference of the fire except Joshua Tonkei (Ojodeh), whose body was also about one step from the edge of the fire spread,” he said.

He said about three paces from the minister’s body was co-pilot Luke Oyugi’s. Next to Mr Oyugi’s body was assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh’s, he added.

“Pilot Nancy Gituanja’s body lay next to Thomas Murimi, one of the VIPs’ bodyguards,” said Mr Emase.

The officer said he had lifted the burning body of Ms Gituanja and that of Mr Murimi as the fire smouldered on.

“People were afraid to move near the fire because of something that exploded,” said Mr Emase.

He said he helped put out the fire before he began marking the bodies on the ground using a peg.

“The bodies were all facing upwards,” he said.

Bullets exploding

On Friday, a ballistic expert told the commission that the firearm he analysed was a police standard issue pistol.

He said the loud bang heard after the aircraft crashed was made by bullets exploding in the gun’s chamber without exiting.

The commission also heard that a piston-like metal rod fitted with a spring which was also recovered at the scene was not a firearm.

Mr Emase was stepped down on Thursday to allow lawyers representing the crash victims’ families and other interested parties to cross-examine him on location.

Judge Kalpana Rawal ruled that the witness be cross-examined at the site over the distances the bodies were found relative to where the aircraft hit the ground after falling from the sky.

The witness said they recovered a burnt pistol from the scene, cash and other personal effects belonging to the crash victims.