Police Officer Claims Self-Defense in Husband’s Shooting Case

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According to Biwott, she had received a distressing call from Kipchumba earlier that day, warning her of his intent.

Administration Police Constable Lilian Biwott during her defense at the Eldoret High Court, where she faces charges for the alleged murder of her husband, Victor Kipchumba.

A female police constable accused of fatally shooting her estranged husband 12 times testified in an Eldoret court, claiming she acted in self-defense after he attempted to seize her official AK47 rifle.
Lillian Biwott, recounting the events of October 14, 2013, told Presiding Judge Reuben Nyakundi that her husband of 10 years, Victor Kipchumba, had threatened to kill their four children.

According to Biwott, she had received a distressing call from Kipchumba earlier that day, warning her of his intent.

Her house help also alerted her, stating that Kipchumba had been making suspicious calls, vowing to harm their children.

Upon hearing this, Biwott rushed to their rented house in Kimumu Estate. Upon arrival, she discovered that Kipchumba had locked both the front and back doors.

With the help of her house help, who was in distress, Biwott managed to gain entry through the back door.

“When I got into our bedroom, my husband, who was armed with a knife, became violent and began to assault me,” Biwott testified.

She recounted that a quarrel ensued between them for nearly an hour before the fatal confrontation occurred.

Biwott, an administration police officer, said that during the struggle, her husband tried to grab her service weapon, prompting her to fire in self-defense.

She told the court that had she not acted, her husband would have killed her.

“Given my husband’s background—he comes from a family with members in the police force and had basic knowledge of firearms—I couldn’t allow him to take my rifle,” Biwott explained in her defense.

In an emotional statement, Biwott revealed that after realizing she had killed her husband, she was overwhelmed with shock and guilt. “I kneeled down and prayed to God for forgiveness,” she said, visibly distressed.

Biwott described her late husband, a matatu driver, as abusive and violent, alleging that he regularly insulted and mistreated her in front of their children.

She also claimed that he had sexually harassed their house help and would beat her whenever she confronted him about it, accusing her of infidelity to deflect from his own actions.

The tragic incident occurred on October 9, 2023, at their rented house along the Eldoret-Iten highway in Uasin Gishu County.

Biwott has been held at the Eldoret GK remand prison since her arrest, after being denied bond due to security concerns.

Represented by lawyer Oscah Oduor, Biwott plans to present two witnesses in her defense. The prosecution, led by Mark Mugun, is expected to close its case during the next hearing on October 9, 2024.

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