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Kenyan athlete Agnes Tirop's murder case continues in court with new developments emerging three years after her tragic death.
The Eldoret High Court heard shocking new revelations about the late Kenyan Olympian Agnes Tirop, whose brutal murder in October 2021 left the athletics world in mourning.
Three years after her untimely death a new twist has emerged in the case with a witness testifying about Tirop’s alleged love affair with another man intensifying the complexity of the trial against her estranged husband Ibrahim Rotich.
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Joseph Cheromei, Tirop’s long-time coach, took the stand before presiding Judge Robert Wananda, revealing that Tirop had been involved in a romantic relationship with a man only identified as Sawe.
Cheromei said he was informed about this affair by Giani Demadona, an Italian athletics manager who was deeply concerned about Tirop’s safety.
"I am a coach at Iten Athletics Training Camp Limited in Elgeyo Marakwet where I also act as an agent for the Italian athletics manager," Cheromei testified as per Nation.
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The competition was organised to honour the slain athlete in her home county.
He recalled that in June 2021, Demadona had instructed him to bring Tirop to the training camp because she was allegedly enduring a difficult time with her estranged husband, Rotich at their home near Iten town.
Cheromei further explained that Demadona believed the new relationship with Sawe was putting Tirop at risk.
"My agent instructed me to bring Agnes to the camp after he learned that she was going through tough times at the hands of her estranged partner Ibrahim Rotich at their Iten house, which was located about 500 meters from the training camp," he told the court.
The 25-year-old athlete, once a world record holder in the 10km road race, was found dead in her home with multiple stab wounds to her stomach and neck in October 2021, just days after returning from a race at the Tokyo Olympics where she finished fifth in the 5000 meters.
Her murder shocked the nation and Rotich was charged with her killing the following month.
The court also heard from other witnesses, including Miriam Rotich, a lecturer at Moi University, who testified that her brother-in-law, Ibrahim Rotich, had borrowed her car on the day of Tirop’s murder.
She recalled how he appeared unusually tense and was sweating profusely when he asked for the car, supposedly to run an errand in Kitale town.
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13:35 - 15.11.2023
ATHLETICS Ibrahim Rotich, man accused of killing superstar Agnes Tirop released on bail
Justice Robert Wananda ruled that Rotich would be set free on a bond.
Hours later, she was horrified to learn of Tirop’s death through breaking news reports.
"I was in my house in Kesses... on switching on my TV at lunchtime, I was shocked by breaking news of the murder of the international runner who I knew to be a girlfriend of my brother-in-law," she said.
Miriam added that efforts to reach Rotich were fruitless as he had switched off his phone, and she later realized he had intended to use her car to escape.
The case has been adjourned to November 5 when three more witnesses are expected to testify, as the search for justice for Agnes Tirop continues.
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