A Kenyan family living in the United States is grieving after their son died in the hands of police, who allegedly tortured him.
Irvo Otieno died in the hands of the police after he was arrested following a report made to the police by a number against him.
According to his mother Caroline Ouko, Otieno was suffering from mental distress and all he needed was specialized treatment.
Ouko says she contacted her son’s psychiatrist to arrange for special movement to a mental health facility where he would be treated, but before the psychiatrist could make any move, their house was surrounded by police after the neighbor’s accused Otieno of stealing.
The police are said to have handcuffed him and moved him to Henrico Doctors’ Hospital on March 3, and later to Henrico Jail. It was here at the jail that the family suspects Otieno was tortured by the police and later rushed to the Central State Hospital where he died.
Seven police officers who handled him are now facing second-degree murder charges after a court was told that they tortured Otieno leading to his death. Mark Krudys, the lawyer for his family said in a statement:
“The family is grief stricken after learning of the brutal nature of Irvo’s death and his inhumane treatment in the hours preceding his death.”
