Policeman held over murder
Sep 03, 2008
A man was shot dead by a Police constable in Moyo district on Monday as he tried to escape arrest.
By Dradenya Amazia
A man was shot dead by a Police constable in Moyo district on Monday as he tried to escape arrest.
Richard Amanzuru of Opiro village in Moyo sub-county was being pursued for assaulting Samuel Leku, the LC1 chairman of the same village.
Relatives said Amanzuru fought his uncle, Leku, during a domestic wrangle. The district police commander, John Goville, said Michael Inyani was being held over the shooting.
He said Amanzuru was shot in the back and the bullet penetrated through the chest, killing him instantly.
An angry mob set Inyani’s grass-thatched hut ablaze, destroying all his possessions.
Simon Moro, a special police constable, who went to recover the gun abandoned by Inyani, was also injured by the mob.
“It was really uncalled for. Such a minor offence does not need one to use a gun when arresting a suspect,†Goville said.
“Inyani went for the arrest without our knowledge because he was not present at the morning parade,†he added.
A witness identified only as Nyuma said Inyani fired the bullet that killed Amanzuru after a long chase.
“I heard a gunshot and shortly, I saw Amanzuru running towards me but he suddenly collapsed,†Nyuma narrated.
Nyuma added that he saw a policeman with a gun approaching but after he realised that Amanzuru was dead, he threw the gun besides the body and fled towards Moyo town.
Goville said Inyani would be charged with murder.
He warned the Police in Moyo district to desist from using excessive force, adding that any officer who does so would be arrested and prosecuted in the courts of law.
In July last year, five students of Itula secondary school were shot and injured by the Police wheo were trying to contain a strike.
Goville, who visited the scene, condemned the act and appealed for calm as the Police investigates the matter.
Amanzuru’s body was taken to Moyo hospital for a postmortem examination.
A man was shot dead by a Police constable in Moyo district on Monday as he tried to escape arrest.
Richard Amanzuru of Opiro village in Moyo sub-county was being pursued for assaulting Samuel Leku, the LC1 chairman of the same village.
Relatives said Amanzuru fought his uncle, Leku, during a domestic wrangle. The district police commander, John Goville, said Michael Inyani was being held over the shooting.
He said Amanzuru was shot in the back and the bullet penetrated through the chest, killing him instantly.
An angry mob set Inyani’s grass-thatched hut ablaze, destroying all his possessions.
Simon Moro, a special police constable, who went to recover the gun abandoned by Inyani, was also injured by the mob.
“It was really uncalled for. Such a minor offence does not need one to use a gun when arresting a suspect,†Goville said.
“Inyani went for the arrest without our knowledge because he was not present at the morning parade,†he added.
A witness identified only as Nyuma said Inyani fired the bullet that killed Amanzuru after a long chase.
“I heard a gunshot and shortly, I saw Amanzuru running towards me but he suddenly collapsed,†Nyuma narrated.
Nyuma added that he saw a policeman with a gun approaching but after he realised that Amanzuru was dead, he threw the gun besides the body and fled towards Moyo town.
Goville said Inyani would be charged with murder.
He warned the Police in Moyo district to desist from using excessive force, adding that any officer who does so would be arrested and prosecuted in the courts of law.
In July last year, five students of Itula secondary school were shot and injured by the Police wheo were trying to contain a strike.
Goville, who visited the scene, condemned the act and appealed for calm as the Police investigates the matter.
Amanzuru’s body was taken to Moyo hospital for a postmortem examination.