Drama erupted at the Kilungu Hospital mortuary after the family of 44-year-old Gideon Makau rejected the post-mortem results into his death while in police custody.
According to the autopsy conducted on August 8, Makau died from asphyxia caused by neck compression, although the pathologists could not establish what or who caused the compression.
The late Makau’s mother, Teresia Mbadi, said the family had initially been told that he used his trousers to take his own life but questioned the explanation after seeing the condition of the clothing.
“They started by telling us everything was fine and that he had hanged himself using his trousers. Why is it that when we came here, the trousers were loose? So how did he hang himself?” Mbadi said.
Gideon Makau’s Family Disputes Autopsy Results
His cousin, Christopher Kathuku, said the family wanted clarity on whether Makau died by suicide or was killed.
“We have seen that he hanged himself, and that is fine, but as a family, how will we know the truth? Was he strangled or did he hang himself?” Kathuku said.
Makau’s wife, Pauline Gideon, said the family had asked to be shown where he allegedly took his own life but were denied access.
“My mother went and asked them to at least show us where he had allegedly hanged himself, but they refused. Now I have no confidence in this government,” she said.
The family has called for further investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding Makau’s death while in police custody and vowed not to bury his remains until the circumstances of his death are established and justice is served.
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Probe Into His Arrest
On August 6, police in Makueni County launched an investigation after Makau was found dead in a police cell at Nunguni Police Post in Kilungu Sub County on the morning of August 5.
The late Gideon Makau, a matatu conductor, had been arrested at about 10.30 pm on Tuesday after members of the public reported that he was allegedly walking around Nunguni Market while armed with a panga and threatening people.
Police said he was arrested on suspicion of preparing to commit a felony and appeared to be intoxicated at the time. He was the only suspect held in the cell.
Also Read: Two Police Officers Jailed Over Death of Suspect in Custody
At about 1.20 am, two officers opened the cell to admit other suspects and reportedly found Mbandi unresponsive.
Preliminary police findings indicated that he had hanged himself from the cell grille using a pair of trousers.
However, no suicide note was recovered, and investigators said there were no visible external injuries on the body.
Crime scene officers processed the area before the body was taken to the Kilungu Sub County Hospital mortuary, where it was awaiting a post-mortem examination.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) was notified of the incident, with its officers visiting the scene and joining investigations into the circumstances surrounding Mbandi’s death.
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