Irene Boit died of poisoning and strangulation, autopsy reveals
Godfrey Kagongo who is accused of killing Ms Irene Jepchumba Boit, follows proceedings at Nakuru High Court on February 25, 2020. CHEBOITE| KIGEN | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Mr Kangogo alleged that the tutor fell off the cliff at the Chokaa Falls where they had gone for a picnic.
Dr Ngulungu, who conducted the post-mortem, said the body had bruises on the neck which indicated that she was strangled.
Dr Waibe, a toxicologist who tested samples from the body, said Ms Boit had been injected with a pesticide.
Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology lecturer Irene Jepchumba Boit was poisoned before she was strangled, evidence by government pathologist Titus Ngulungu and analyst Joel Waibe reveals.
Ms Boit’s body was retrieved from Molo River in Rongai Sub-County of Nakuru on July 6, 2018.
CHOKAA FALLS
Mr Godrey Kagongo has been charged with her murder. Mr Kangogo alleged that the tutor fell off the cliff at the Chokaa Falls where they had gone for a picnic.
However, Dr Ngulungu, who conducted the post-mortem, claimed the body had bruises on the neck which indicated that she was strangled.
Appearing before Justice Joel Mwaura, Dr Ngulungu said the post-mortem revealed that Ms Boit had bruises on the elbows, shoulders and scalp as well as a black eye which, he said, was as a result of bleeding under the skin.
“We concluded that the cause of death might be manual strangulation,” said Dr Ngulungu.
Dr Waibe, a toxicologist who tested samples from the body, said Ms Boit had been injected with a pesticide.
Dr Waibe said the tests revealed that a propoxur, a carbamate pesticide, which is harmful if ingested, was detected in the liver and stomach samples.
He also revealed that Ms Boit’s blood tested positive for alcohol.
PESTICIDE
“A combination of pesticide and alcohol detected in the post-mortem specimen could have contributed to the death of Ms Irene Jepchumba Boit,” said the report.
The reports were, however, challenged by the defence lawyers led by Mr David Mongeri who said the post-mortem report may have been doctored.
Mr Mongeri asked why the pathologist failed to allow a doctor from the family of the accused during the post-mortem.
“Why did the witness choose a doctor for the family when they had recommended one? This only shows that the pathologist had a pre-determined outcome of the examination,” said Mr Mongeri.
Mr Kangogo, who has denied a murder charge, is out on bond.
Ms Marion Jebet Wilhamy, a witness who testified earlier, told the court that Mr Kangogo, who was her relative, had passed by her house in Chemongoch near Mogotio trading centre in the company of Ms Boit for lunch and drinks before proceeding to the Chokaa Falls.
