A Meru high court on Monday heard that an Isiolo land rights activist Elizabeth Ibrahim Ekaru died after profusely bleeding when she was stabbed several times at a funeral she was attending.
Dr Mohammed Abdikadir who conducted the postmortem of the deceased at St Theresa Mission Hospital Kiirua on January 6, 2022 told the court that major blood vessels had been cut leading to excessive bleeding.
“The body had multiple injuries with deep cuts measuring up to 21cm. The deceased had injuries on the left thigh that had cut a major vein, another on the right arm with a deep cut, and another at the back that had also cut the major blood vessel. The bleeding from those vessels that transport blood to or from the heart led to excessive bleeding that caused her death” said Dr Mohammed.
Dr Mohammed said that the blood on the knives and that of the deceased matched.
He told the Meru high court Judge Edward Murithi that such injuries on the body of the deceased were caused by a sharp penetrating object.
The doctor of medicine and surgery from Kampala University Uganda and who worked at Isiolo County Referral Hospital, recalled that when the deceased was rushed to hospital, there was a lot of commotion as the deceased was well known to the community.
Vincent Mutua, a detective attached to the scene of crime in Isiolo who made a report and forensic photographs, recounted that he was notified by a DCI officer who called him to the scene.
He noted that it was then that they proceeded to Kambi Garba along Isiolo Marsabit road, where the accused, Patrick Naweet, was rescued by police and taken to Isiolo after he was beaten by an irate mob.
He noted that they found a bag containing knives said to be belonging to the accused. The exhibit was produced in court.
Next to a house there was, a thicket where a knife had been thrown stained with blood, and it was believed to have been used to stab the deceased
The detective said from Kambi Garba, they went to an open field where the suspect is said to have started attacking the human rights activist.
“We went to an open field where we found rocks stained with blood and we were informed that it was the place where the accused started attacking the deceased.
This is where the deceased was rescued unconscious. The soil here was also stained with blood” recalled Vincent.
The accused Patrick Naweet was represented by advocate Hillary Sandi.
The prosecutor, Eric Masila told the court that two witnesses among them a government analyst and the investigating officer are yet to testify with the hearing expected to resume on September 18, 2023.
Human rights activists at Meru law courts. They called for justice for fallen comrade Elizabeth Ekaru. Photo. Mwenda Kinoti
Lead counsel in the defence of the activist Elizabeth Ekaru, Zainab Kombo expressed gratitude that there is cooperation between her team, the DPP and the court saying that they are contented with the pace at which the trial is taking place.
“On behalf of the family and organisations that have been supporting us, we are hopeful that at the end of the hearing we will be able to get justice for our comrade Elizabeth Ekaru” said Zainab.
Other rights defenders comrades shared similar sentiments, saying that they will stand in solidarity till justice for their fallen comrade is delivered.
