New twist: Autopsy report shows cause of Githurai bouncer's death
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- An autopsy conducted at Nairobi Funeral Home established that Eric Muiruri, killed in Githurai, died from two gunshot wounds
- Pathologist Bernard Midia found additional visible injuries on Muiruri's body around the time of his death
- Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid said bullet trajectory evidence supported the family's version of events over the police account
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - An autopsy conducted at Nairobi Funeral Home on Monday has established that Eric Muiruri, who was killed in Githurai, died as a result of two gunshot wounds, with findings that his family and a rights advocate say contradict the police's version of events.
Pathologist Bernard Midia, who performed the postmortem examination, found that one bullet entered Muiruri's body and exited through his back, while a second passed through his chest and abdomen, causing damage to multiple internal organs.
Midia also noted that the examination revealed other visible injuries sustained around the time of death.
"We also note that there were several visible signs of injuries around the period and time of death," Midia said.
Bullet trajectory points to elevated shooter
Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid, who was present at the autopsy, said the trajectory of one of the bullets indicated the shooter was positioned at a higher elevation than Muiruri at the moment of firing.
"From the autopsy, we have confirmed that the entry was at a higher level than the exit of the bullet, and this only means that the shooter was at a vantage elevated point compared to where the victim was," Hussein said.
He added that the trajectory was inconsistent with Muiruri having been on his feet when shot.
"So if the victim was standing, then it would probably mean the shooter was on a tree, or something, which doesn't make sense, but this postmortem basically confirms the mother's claim that Eric was actually kneeling when he was shot," he said.
Family disputes police account
Police had stated that Muiruri was shot during a pursuit, alleging that he and three other young men had robbed a passenger aboard a moving vehicle along a highway in the area. His family has firmly rejected that version.
His mother, Joyce Njoki, maintains that her son was shot while on his knees, begging for his life. She said Muiruri had allegedly been involved in a confrontation with a club manager, who was overpowered and subsequently called the police. When officers arrived, Njoki said, one of them recognised her son and drew his weapon.
"The manager called the police… when Stevo arrived with Denno, they saw him and knew him, then he pulled out a gun… (Muiruri) raised his hand and told Stevo, 'Don't kill me, before you kill me, call my mother,'" she said.
Njoki further alleged that the officers attempted to incriminate her son after the shooting by placing items in a bag and claiming they were stolen property.
The autopsy findings have intensified demands for a full investigation into the circumstances of Muiruri's death, with his family insisting the postmortem evidence supports their account over the official police narrative.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.