Caroline Kangogo, a former police officer alleged to have committed suicide at her parents’ home in Anin Elgeyo Marakwet died of a single gunshot wound to the head, autopsy report can reveal.
According to the government Chief Pathologist Dr Johannsen Odour, the bullet entered the body through the right chin and exited from the left side of the head with a trajectory going through the spine to the brain.
The autopsy took slightly over two hours after the arrival of Dr Oduor at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue from Nairobi after the body of the late Kangogo was brought in early morning from Iten County Referral hospital morgue.
“When I looked at the gunshot wound entry, I established that it was a contact wound which means the gun was on the skin when it was fired as evidenced by a hole and soot around the area. This is what we call muzzle imprint in technical terms,” Oduor said.
On whether she was shot or she shot herself, the pathologist said that would be established after further examination of swabs taken from the late officer’s hands and gunshot residues collected by investigating officers.
“My job as a pathologist is to investigate the cause of death. Manner of death involves many things that are supposed to be done and that’s why we have taken samples to the lab to help us establish the manner of death which can either be suicide, accident or natural cause,” he added.
The autopsy failed to take place on Friday last week as had been planned to pave way for her burial on Saturday angering her family and Dr Oduor says he was informed late about the planned autopsy.
Her body has since been moved back to Iten County Referral Hospital with a new date for burial due to be communicated by the family who attended the autopsy exercise at the MTRH.
