Gas poisoning ruled out in copter crash deaths

By ALLY JAMAH

A pathologist has cast doubts on the likelihood the victims of the chopper crash that killed Internal Security Minister George Saitoti and other victims suffered carbon monoxide poisoning.

Her conclusion sharply differs with previous testimony by two Government Forensic Pathologists, who concluded that the six victims showed cherry-pink discolouration on their bodies suggesting carbon monoxide poisoning.

Testifying Wednesday before the commission of inquiry probing the June 10 crash, Dr Emily Rogena, who also lectures Forensic Pathology at the University of Nairobi, said photographs of the six bodies did not suggest carbon-monoxide contamination of their blood and tissue.

The photographs were taken at the crash scene in Kibiko Forest in Ngong’.

Rogena said the deaths may have been caused by multiple injuries due to the crash.

“There is much charring and darkening of the tissues appear brownish to me. I do not appreciate any cherry-pink discolouration. It is difficult to appreciate the discolouration in African skins by looking externally,” she said.

With regard to co-pilot Luke Oyugi, whose blood tests by the Government Chemist indicated high levels of carbon monoxide poisoning (68.6 per cent), the pathologist said that his tissues also did not have the cherry-pink discolouration.

She, however, said the co-pilot of the chopper could have died due to injuries or carbon monoxide poisoning. The Commission, led by Lady Justice Kalpana Rawal, had asked Rogena to review and give expert opinion on postmortem reports done by Government Forensic Pathologists Johansen Oduol, Dorothy Njeru and Amritpal Kalsi.

The previous reports indicated that the victims could have died from severe injuries as well as carbon monoxide poisoning.

During questioning by Saitoti family lawyer Fredrick Ngatia, the pathologist admitted that observations of different pathologists might differ depending on the circumstances including the lighting.