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Slain athlete Agnes Tirop’s murder: Husband arraigned

Tuesday, October 19th, 2021 00:00 | By
Ibrahim Rotich, the husband of athlete Agnes Tirop, when he appeared before Iten Law Courts. PHOTO/James Gitaka

Wycliff Kipsang

The husband of slain athlete Agnes Tirop appeared in court yesterday but the prosecution asked for 20 days to complete investigations.

Ibrahim Kipkemoi Rotich, who appeared before Iten Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Charles Kutwa, did not take plea.

“I hereby order that the suspect be detained at Eldoret Railways Police Station and a mental assessment be done at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret before facing trial,” said Kutwa.

There was tight security at the court’s premises as Rotich, who appeared composed, was brought in.

The case will be mentioned on November 9 when the court will issue more orders.

Rotich, who is the prime suspect in the murder of the 25-year-old two-time World Championships medalist, was arrested last Thursday by police in Changamwe, Mombasa County.

Tirop was found dead in her bedroom in their home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on Wednesday.  There were stab wounds in her body.

According to police, Rotich is a key suspect in the death of the Olympian whose death has shocked the country.

People Daily has established that Rotich was arrested in a police station in Changamwe Police Division where he had gone to visit a relative.

Neighbours of the athlete at Rural Estate on the outskirts of Iten town have disclosed that the couple quarreled on many occasions.

CCTV footage

“She had complained of an abusive relationship. In fact she had gone to take her belongings from her husband’s house when the unfortunate incident happened,” a neighbour and a confidante of the athlete to told People Daily.

Detectives have retrieved CCTV footage from Tirop’s home.

Police have not, however, shared the contents of the footage but they believe it will be crucial in the prosecution of the suspect. 

Rotich is suspected to have stabbed Tirop several times before going into hiding.

Keiyo North police boss Tom Makori said the athlete’s parents had reported that she was missing and that her phone had been switched off.

“It is only when her parents reported that her husband had called them crying and regretting that he had done something bad that we broke into the house where we found her body lying in a pool of blood,” said Makori.

“The fact that he called the athlete’s parents regretting what he had done makes us believe that he had a hand in the death,” added Makori.

Tirop became the world record holder last month after winning the 10km road race. She clocked 30:01 during the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

At the age of 19, Tirop became the youngest winner of the World Cross Country since Zola Budd in 1985 and the second youngest in World Cross Country Athletics history.

She was part of Team Kenya in this year’s Tokyo Olympics where she came fourth in the 5000m race.

Burial arrangements are underway at her home in Nandi County.

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