Officer kills wife, shoots self dead

Locals assist police officers to carry the body of Eunice Wambui who was killed by her husband yesterday in Njoro. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

A policeman killed his wife before shooting himself dead at Piave in Njoro sub-county.

Police Constable Cornelius Tallam, 28, based at Piave Patrol Base, shot his wife Eunice Wambui in their house after a quarrel.

The incident is said to have happened on Monday evening, according to witnesses and police officers.

Nakuru Police Commander Hassan Barua said the officer used his assigned G3 gun.

Mr Barua said Tallam reportedly locked himself in the house before shooting his wife dead and later turned the gun on himself.

“This is a patrol base that does not have an armoury. The police officer had therefore been assigned the gun for operation that he, unfortunately, used to kill his wife and himself,” said Barua.

According to Barua, the killing was discovered by Tallam’s colleague at the patrol base who went to check on him yesterday morning.

Tallam, he said, was expected to present an exhibit at the court yesterday morning but he could not be traced, only for his body to be found lying in a pool of blood.

Police officers recovered six spent cartridges, 14 bullets and the G3 gun in the house. 

An officer holds the G3 riffle used by the officer to kill wife and self. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Zakayo Muturi, a neighbour, said he heard the two quarrel on Monday afternoon.

At around 4pm, he said he heard rattling of bullets in the house but was reluctant to find what was happening because of fear of being implicated in the crime.