Witnesses deny police link in Alexander Monson's death

Two witnesses have told a court that police officers had no hand in the killing of Alexander Monson, the son of British aristocrat Baron Monson, in Diani, Kwale County.

Mr Mohammed Salim and Sofian Ibra were cellmates with Alexander, who was arrested on May 17, 2012 but died hours later while undergoing treatment at a Diani hospital.

Testifying before Mombasa High Court Judge Eric Ogola, Mr Salim said Alexander had been in good health and did not have physical injuries.

He said Alexander was brought to the cells at around 4am, where six others were already detained, but a few minutes later, he complained that it was hot and requested to be moved out of the cells.

"There was no commotion in the cells. Alexander knocked the door requesting to be moved out because it was hot inside," he said.

MOVE

Another witness, Mr Abdalla Sofiani, gave a similar account and said that after Alexander complained of hot conditions in the cells, police moved him out.

He said two police officers in civilian clothes went into the room and tried to move him but were unable to, so they asked the inmates to help.

Mr Sofani said he and four other inmates moved Alexander to the corridor while the two police officers directed them on where to place him.

"I was among the five who moved Alexander out of the cell. The police officers did not carry him out of the cells to the corridor," he said.

BREAKFAST

Mr Sofiani further said Alexander was called for breakfast but never woke up to take it.

"He was served a cup of tea and a slice of bread," he said.

Mr Sofiani said they were released the next morning, leaving Alexander leaning against the wall close to the reporting desk.

But the witnesses could not remember the police officers or identify them in the courtroom from four suspects who were present.