Ibrahim Emmanuel Rotich, the ex-boyfriend and prime suspect in the murder of the two-time world 10,000 metres bronze medallist, Agnes Tirop, has admitted to killing Agnes.
Keiyo North Sub County’s DCIO Andolo Munga, disclosed that Mr Rotich owned up to killing Ms Tirop, saying their relationship was full of fights, and as a result, decided to end the life of the athlete. He added that detectives have overwhelming evidence against the athlete’s estranged lover and coach.
“The threshold for the murder is overwhelming. The autopsy report and the suspect’s confession note, together with the murder weapons – a knife and a wooden club (rungu), have given us overwhelming evidence, which points to murder. The athlete had cuts to her head as well as several stabs in the neck. The rungu exerted blunt force trauma, badly damaging her brain, leading to her death.”
DCIO Andolo Munga
Mr Munga stated that, according to the investigation, it is clear the suspect had intention to kill her and toxicological analysis would reveal more information.
“We expect the CCTV report, which is also very crucial in this matter, to be out by tomorrow, Friday, October 22, and this will show us if there was anyone else who aided or participated in the murder of the athlete.”
DCIO Andolo Munga
Ms Tirop’s body was found lying in a pool of blood inside her bedroom on, Wednesday last week, October 13, a day after she was reported missing.
The confession by Mr Rotich corroborates multiple claims by those known to the athlete, including her siblings, that she was a victim of domestic abuse.
Ms Tirop younger sister, Ms Evelyn Jepng’etich, who was living with the athlete, and was with her on the night before she was reported missing, had narrated how she heard a commotion in her sister’s bedroom.
“Not once, but on several occasions, my sister was savagely beaten. Even on the day she returned from the Olympic Games, that night she did not sleep, but was wailing the entire night because of the beatings. In the morning her face was swollen and bruised. My sister had confided in me that Rotich was abusing her, but she opened up too late. On Monday night, I heard a loud commotion in my sister’s bedroom before she was discovered dead on Wednesday.”
Evelyn Jepng’etich
Michel Boeting, a close friend of the Tirop, who knows the couple said Tirop and Rotich had a strained relationship, and that there was domestic violence, which forced Ms Tirop to seek refuge in her training camp. On Monday, last week, she agreed to return to her home after a truce was reached.
“She had not been to her home since she returned from Tokyo Olympics. She had been physically abused and fled to her training camp within Iten. She only came back to her home on Monday last week following arbitration by Mr Rotich’s friends. She was not seen alive again.
“The domestic wrangles were known to the athletics fraternity, only Agnes was putting on a brave face. Rotich was very jealous and protective of her and even during massage sessions, he had given express instructions to the massage therapist on the body parts that should be massaged.”
Close friend
The athlete’s father, Mr Vincent Tirop, said his daughter was a victim of physical abuse from her lover, whom the family has disowned.
“Let it be known that my daughter was never married to the suspect. I have never met his parents or even received any bride price. What I know is my child was forced to drop out of school while in Form Three and has since been living with him till her untimely demise”.
Vincent Tirop
Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Tirop competes in the Women’s 5,000m race heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 30, 2021.
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