Autopsy: Baby Walter died from head injuries

A second autopsy has confirmed head injury leading to internal bleeding as the cause of baby Walter Odhiambo Junior’s death.

The second report which was tabled in court on Friday was done by doctor Daniel Mbithi acting for a couple being held over the death of the two year old baby.

Earlier, a government doctor also tabled a report on the cause of death of baby Walter. It indicated that the baby died due to internal bleeding caused by head injury inflicted using blunt force.

The couple was taken into custody following a court order that they be investigated on allegations of abuse.

This order was given after the Children’s Department went to court raising suspicion that baby Walter may have been tortured.

Following the presentation of the second report, the children’s court magistrate L.P. Kassan ordered for immediate release of the body of baby Walter to relatives for burial to avoid decay.

The magistrate further ordered the state to pay mortuary fees from February 26 to last Friday.

Before baby Walter died, two hospitals which attended to him raised questions about the nature of his head injuries prompting the Children’s Department to seize the case.

According to a report tabled in court by the Children's Department, the child was first treated at Nairobi Hospital and discharged. But he was taken back to hospital with pus oozing from his ears.

The explanation given by those who cared for him was that the child scratched himself. But when questioned by doctors, the woman said Walter was hurt when a man slipped and fell with him as they left the bathroom.

This explanation, the report says, was found to be suspicious.

Upon further interrogation, the woman said a house help may have injured the child.

Ms Esther Githinji, the officer who compiled the report, said the child might have been abused.

Ms Githinji visited Mater Hospital, where the baby was admitted, after receiving calls from the director of nursing. The doctors who attended to the baby raised concerns about the severity of the injuries.

Attorney-General Amos Wako wrote to the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mr Karanja Gatiba asking him to quickly investigate the circumstances under which the baby died.