A High Court in Eldoret has issued orders to homicide detectives to return Moi University lecturer Miriam Rotich’s vehicle to her, which they have been holding since last year.

Justice Robert Wananda told the university don that she was at liberty to take her vehicle, which formed part of the exhibits in the murder case facing her brother in-law Ibrahim Rotich.

“I have issued orders to the homicide detectives to return your vehicle on condition that you will avail it to the court when required to do so in the hearing of the late Agnes Tirop murder case ,” ruled the judge.

The lecturer had told the court that the murder suspect, who is her brother-in-law, had asked to borrow her car for an errand in Kitale town, Trans Nzoia county, on October 12, 2023.

Little did she know that her brother-in-law wanted to use her car to escape after allegedly stabbing his wife to death at their Iten home on the night of October 13, 2023.

The university don said that she was shocked to hear breaking news while watching TV in her house in Kesses area Uasin Gishu county that Agnes Tirop, the 10,000 metres bronze medallist, had been found dead in what was suspected to be homicide at their Iten house with her husband, Rotich, missing.

Brutal end
Rotich is accused of killing his wife and is said to have used the vehicle in an attempt to flee to a neighbouring country to evade justice. He was arrested by the police in Mombasa who then confiscated the vehicle after he was linked to the gruesome murder that cut short the promising career of the then world record holder.

In her affidavit filed in court, the university lecturer told the judge that she was ready and willing to avail her vehicle in court whenever required.

“Your lordship, I have filed an affidavit in the court requesting for release of my vehicle so that I can use it for my work at the university, I am ready and willing to avail the same to this court when required to do so,” stated Mrs Rotich.

Rotich rammed the vehicle in a ditch, damaging it, while trying to evade arrest from a team of police officers who were chasing after him in Mombasa. The officers moved into action swiftly after they were informed by their colleagues from Elgeyo Marakwet County over his alleged escape to Tanzania.

Eight witnesses have so far testified in the murder of the slain international runner among them his parents, a sister and brother.

According to state counsel David Fedha, they have lined up 23 witnesses in the murder trial which is set to resume on November 5.