Rashid trial: Teens shot 10 times, says pathologist

Ahmed Rashid, a police officer facing murder charges, for the alleged shooting and killing of a victim in Eastleigh, before the Kibera law courts. The case is before Justice Diana Kavedza. He is represented by lawyer Danston Omari, among others.[Benard Orwongo/Standard]

A former government pathologist on Thursday told the High Court that two teenagers at the centre of the murder trial against former Pangani police officer Ahmed Rashid were shot a total of 10 times.

Dr Peter Ndegwa, testifying before Justice Diana Kavedza, said the two 17-year-olds died from multiple organ injuries caused by multiple gunshots.

Ndegwa, who retired from the Civil Service in April this year, carried out the autopsies on April 5, 2017, at the Nairobi Funeral Home in the presence of relatives of the deceased, a police investigator and other witnesses.

The boys, Jamal Mohammed and Mohammed Dhair Kheri, were allegedly shot dead by Rashid on March 31, 2017.The pathologist explained that both boys were healthy before their deaths.

He told the court that Dhair sustained four gunshot wounds, two of which were fired at close range.

One bullet entered through the top of the head and exited on the left side of the neck, while two shots were fired directly at the chest, leaving marks of blackening and tattooing associated with close contact.

Dhair also suffered a gunshot wound to the right arm. His lungs were perforated, ribs fractured and his brain lacerated.

Specimens, including stomach contents, blood and liver samples, were collected for toxicology tests. Ndegwa confirmed no bullets were recovered from Dhair's body.

Jamal, on the other hand, sustained six gunshot wounds. These included injuries to the right thigh, left side of the body, left hand, lower arm and left shoulder.

He also suffered a gunshot wound above the left eyebrow, which exited through his hairline.

Multiple injuries

The injuries perforated his lung, chest cavity, bowels and major blood vessels.His abdominal cavity was filled with blood, and his skull was fractured with brain damage.

"In my opinion, Jamal died from multiple organ injuries due to multiple gunshots," Ndegwa told the court

The pathologist also observed that his skull was fractured, and wounded brain.

"I formed the opinion that Jamal died due to multiple organ injuries due to multiple gunshots," he said.

He said one bullet lodged under Jamal's skin was handed over to the investigating officer.

The second witness, Chief Inspector Peter Omollo of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' forensic unit, testified that a colleague, Nguka Owange, reconstructed the murder scene a day after the incident.

Omollo explained that reconstruction was crucial to establishing the sequence of events.

He added that the then Pangani Officer Commanding Station (OCS) identified the scene.

The prosecution indicated that its case is nearing completion, with only six more witnesses expected to testify.