Kenyan teenager in UK hanged himself, inquest told

A section of the Members of the National Assembly. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI   NATION MEDIA GROU

In Summary

• It also emerged that Prior to being accommodated by the bar owner, Wanjau had been homeless and living in a tent in a nearby park.
• The findings of the inquest come barely a month after another Kenyan man was found hanging from a tree in New Jersey, USA.

By BMJ MURIITHI
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A United Kingdom pathologist has told an inquest that a Kenyan teenager whose body was found in a South Yorkshire apartment in December last year hanged himself.

Michael Muita Wanjau, 18, died on December 30th at Barnsley Hospital, where he had been admitted for a week. Doctors said he died of hypoxia which is a condition caused by reduced supply of oxygen to the brain.

Soon after the fatal incident, Sheffield city police opened an inquest into the circumstances leading to the death.

On Friday the inquest was told that Wanjau was found hanged outside a South Yorkshire bar following a row that erupted after he followed a female friend into the ladies’ toilets.

“We watched in amazement as Michael followed Natasha Murphy into the toilet,” said a witness who was present at the bar on the night of the incident.

“Other women present rebuked him saying he shouldn’t be in the ladies and that he should know better,” said Kevin Murphy, the bar owner and father to Natasha.

Mr Wanjau was apparently upset by the women’s remarks and went outside where Mr Murphy calmed him down.

But the teenager later walked upstairs and was found hanged from the banister of a fire escape at the Sir George’s Arms bar in Wombwell, Barnsley.

Mr Murphy said the deceased used a belt to suspend himself from a railing. “I quickly removed a belt from around his neck and tried to resuscitate him before calling an ambulance.”

But the Kenyan-born teenager died in hospital a week later from a brain injury which had been caused by the hanging.

It also emerged that Prior to being accommodated by the bar owner, Wanjau had been homeless and living in a tent in a nearby park.

The Sheffield inquest was told that Mr Wanjau had been living in accommodation above the pub for three months before his death.

“It wasn’t particularly vicious or anything,” said Mr Murphy, adding, “he may have had a few drinks but he didn’t seem intoxicated, he seemed all right when he went upstairs,” he said.

Assistant deputy coroner Siobhan Kelly told the hearing that Wanjau fought for his life for a week before succumbing to injuries. “He was in a bad shape,” he said.

The findings of the inquest come barely a month after another Kenyan man was found hanging from a tree in New Jersey, USA.

Early last month, Police in Jersey city launched investigations into the circumstances leading to the death of a Kenyan man whose body was found hanging on a tree in one of the city’s parks.

The body of Jeffrey Kililibwa, 61, was discovered dangling from a tree by a passerby in Lafayette Park.

Hudson County Prosecutor's Office spokesman, Gene Rubino, told a media briefing that Jersey City Police received a call from a woman taking her morning walk near the Park who said she saw a man hanging from a tree.

“Police arrived at scene and discovered a Kenyan man in his 60s suspended from the tree on the west side of the park,” Rubino said. He was taken to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival.