UK tycoon Veevers to be buried after 11 years

When Roy Veevers' daughter Hellen Veevers stormed a Mombasa court during proceedings of the inquest into her father's death. [File, Standard]

The late UK tycoon Roy Veevers will finally be laid to rest after the court ruled there was no foul play in his mysterious death 11 and a half years ago.

The body of the tycoon remained in the mortuary as his two sons and daughters battled in court over his death, religion and place of burial. Veevers died on February 14, 2013, after a short illness and was buried by his second wife, Azra Din, according to the Muslim religion.

The burial sparked protest from Roy's sons, Philip Veevers and Richard Veevers, born from his first wife, with whom he lived in the UK before relocating to Kenya.

Philip, who resides in the UK, and his young brother Richard, who lives in Kenya, accused their stepmother of foul play in the death of their father and demanded an inquest that led to exhumation of his body on April 26, 2013.

The two brothers have been in a protracted court battle with their two stepsisters, Hellen Veevers and Alexandra Veevers, who claim innocence of their mother. Richard and Philip seek to bury their late father in the UK, while Hellen and Alexandra are fighting for his remains to be rested in Kenya.

The case has since gone through nine magistrates and one judge before its conclusion. However, yesterday, Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo said the evidence adduced did not point to Din as someone who took the life of her husband.

"Nothing done or not done by Azra Din could have been said to be harum-scarum enough to be considered the cause of death of the deceased," said Odhiambo.

Philip Veevers (left) and his brother Richard Veevers, during proceedings of the inquest into their father's death. [File, Standard]

He noted that Din, having lived with Roy for 36 years, knew or considered him a Muslim and opted to organise his funeral without a postmortem.

"She did this not knowing she would carry the burden of being a murder suspect. No evidence has been adduced to confirm her as one," said Odhiambo.

The magistrate said due to the level of decomposition and the conflicting reports by the pathologists, government chemist and other experts, the cause of death of Roy remains unknown, and as such, nobody can be called to answer any charge.

"The investigations relating to the death of the deceased are hereby considered closed unless and until new information comes to light," said Odhiambo.

The magistrate said that in the absence of any lawful court order barring the release of Roy's remains, which have remained at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary for 11 years, 25 months and five days, they be released to the family for burial of their choice after paying the necessary mortuary charges.

"It is so ordered; may Roy Veevers find rest in eternal peace," said Odhiambo.