The murder case against Migori governor Okoth Obado resumed yesterday where images of the late Sharon Otieno’s 28-week-old foetus were displayed in court with intestines hanging out of its body.
Sharon’s father, Douglas Otieno, sobbed quietly during the court session as he listened to an obstetrician testify on what caused his grandchild’s death.
Doctor Samson Makhoha, a consultant on obstetrics and gynaecology, took the court through the graphic images that are being used to prove the involvement of Obado, his aides Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero in the murder that took place at Owade, Homa Bay county.
According to him, Sharon lost a lot of blood after she was stabbed and her body discovered dumped several hours later.
He was able to establish that through projections of two ultra sounds performed on Sharon.
The lifespan of a foetus while in the mother’s womb is 40 weeks.
But according to the doctor, a foetus as young as 24 weeks old can be delivered and survive.
“From my experience, a 28-week foetus is a normal human being with all its features. It has normal hands, legs and limbs, all features of an adult person. The only problem the premature baby may have been lung maturity,” he said.
The court heard that the foetus had injuries. His intestines were out, and he was bleeding.
“If we had the chance, we would have gotten the loops of bowels which were hanging out because of bleeding back inside,” Wanjala said.
“But this would only have been possible if the environment had been different, meaning if there was a hospital nearby and doctors to give the foetus medical intervention it deserves.”
The doctor testified that the baby may have lost oxygen and blood as the mother was dead and was discovered about 14 hours later.
He also said in his opinion that if the mother and the unborn child were discovered earlier and immediate intervention were observed, the baby had a slight chance of survival.
DNA results showed that the unborn male child was Obado’s.
At the time Sharon met her death, she had suffered seven stab and two slash wounds.
The first stab wound was so severe that it went through her womb. This ultimately led to the death of the unborn baby.
Government pathologist, Dr Johansen Oduor, said after thorough examination it was found that the baby died because of sharp abdominal trauma.
Sharon, on the other hand, died as a result of severe haemorrhage because of the penetrating force trauma. The stab wounds were on her neck, stomach and back.
There were also multiple cuts distributed on her upper and lower limbs.
Meanwhile, Migori county secretary Christopher Odhiambo, who is also a witness, confirmed that Oyamo and Obiero were Obado’s personal assistants. The case will proceed on March 22.