Autopsy shows man who died in Machakos police cell was murdered

 

On March 8, 2021, Mark Lumbasi Natala, 20, was arrested at Malaa market in Machakos for allegedly stealing bath tub and was booked at KBC Police Station.

But before his family could know about his arrest, he was dead, and police officers said that he had hanged himself in the cell.

But a post-mortem done at the City Mortuary in Nairobi on Tuesday tells a different story — he was tortured to death.

The post-mortem concluded that Mr Natala died from homicidal hanging after he was tortured on various parts of his body, including his private parts.

"As a result of my examination, I formed the opinion that the cause of death was asphyxia due to neck compression secondary to homicidal hanging. Other significant findings are multiple generalised contusions," stated the report signed by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor, Dr Charles Muturi, representing Haki Africa and Dr Watenga Kamotho who represented the family.

Homicidal hanging refers to death that occurs when a person is rendered senseless and then hanged to simulate suicidal death.

On the other hand, asphyxia refers to a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness, death or suffocation.

Marks of injuries

Mr Natala’s body bore various marks of injuries on its hands, legs, shoulders and neck, and his mouth was stuffed with parts of his torn shirt's collar and the face mask he had been wearing.

Additionally, his hands were tied to the back, all of which pointed to the possibility of him having been tortured before death.

“Is it that he tied his hands then hanged himself or hanged himself before tying his hands both of which do not make sense?” wondered Lumbasi’s elder brother, Ezekiel Natala, moments after the family was briefed on the findings.

Ezekiel, who lives in Malaba, said he received a call on March 10 informing him that his brother had died after being involved in an accident in Kangundo.

Upon probing how the death occurred, the family heard that Lumbasi had committed suicide by hanging himself in a police station cell.

Concerned and saddened by the news, the family sent some representatives to Kangundo to check on the body.

Hands tied

They found it at the at Kangundo District Hospital mortuary where it was being preserved but discovered that Mr Natala’s hands had been tied to the back and his mouth stuffed with parts of his torn shirt, foil paper and face mask which raised suspicions of murder.

“A DCI officer handling the case then told us that my brother had died inside KBC Police Station cells under mysterious circumstances,” Ezekiel told journalists.

At the station, officers told Ezekiel that his brother had been arrested at Malaa market with an alleged stolen bath tub and booked at KBC Police Station for the offence of stealing. However, he was not shown the stolen bathtub neither was he shown the OB number for the case.

“The officers said they had booked him on March 8 at around 9.30pm, only to find him hanging in the cells at 6am the following morning. They said he had hanged himself using his shirt and trouser,” said Ezekiel.

“A second suspect who was booked in the same cell at around 4am is reported not to have heard any commotion. Officers said the inmate woke up and got shocked to find the deceased hanging from the rooftop,” Ezekiel told journalists.

The matter was taken over by DCI detectives, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) and Haki Africa who Tuesday witnessed the post-mortem at City Mortuary a day after the body was transferred from Kangundo Hospital mortuary.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid called on the DCI to speed up investigations into the incident so that the family can get justice.

Civilian deaths

According to data sourced from Missing Voices Kenya, 137 civilians lost their lives while others were reported missing in the country last year.

“Cases of civilians losing their lives in the hands of police officers have been on the rise in this country. Action needs to be taken by the DCI and Ipoa and ensure that if officers are involved, they are arrested and prosecuted,” said Mr Khalid.

Mr Khalid further asked the investigative agencies to establish the motive behind Mr Natala’s killing and the circumstances under which he was arrested.

“Why is it that no OB was recorded when the arrest was made and there has been no complainant in the case? The truth needs to come out,” said Mr Khalid.

Mr Natala’s aunt, Pamela Kavulu, described him as a quiet and hardworking young man who was waiting to harvest some of his crops back at home.

“Those involved must be brought to book to explain how he died in the cells,” said Kavuvu.

The body was later transported to Malaba ahead of burial on Thursday.  BY DAILY NATION