Seven police officers in Virginia, United States were arraigned in court for the alleged murder of a 28-year-old Kenyan.
The deceased identified as Irvo Otieno is said to have met his untimely death after the officers allegedly smothered him during the intake at a State mental health facility on March 6, 2023.
It is reported that the officers had transferred him from the Henrico County jail to the state mental health facility where he died.
The court heard that the deceased was held on the ground for 12 minutes by the suspects. At the time, he was in handcuffs and leg irons.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill noted that there was a 12-minute video corroborating the testimony.
"They smothered him to death. He died of asphyxia due to being smothered," Baskervill said.
Preliminary reports tabled before the court revealed that the deceased was on treatment for mental illness.
The suspects were charged with second-degree murder.
The deceased's mother, Caroline Ouko testified that one of the neighbours reported her son for burglary leading to his arrest.
Ouko told the court that she had planned to call her son's psychiatrist for a special movement to a mental health facility when police stormed their compound and forcefully arrested him.
While calling for justice, the family through its attorney Mark Krudys has decried the unfair treatment of their kin under police custody.
“The family is truly grief-stricken after learning of the brutal nature of Irvo’s death and his inhumane treatment in the hours preceding his death. The public, and experienced mental health professionals alike, will be appalled when the facts of this case are fully made known," Krudys stated.
