Kenyan Olympics champion’s daughter murdered in Switzerland

Athletics Kenya (AK) is monitoring the situation following the gruesome murder of the daughter to the 1984 Olympics men 3000m steeplechase champion, Julius Korir in Switzerland last week.

AK boss Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei told Citizen Digital on Tuesday they had received information about the incident but are waiting for direction from law enforcement agencies in the two countries investigating the killing.

“This is sad and we understand Korir himself is also in hospital and at the moment, it is a matter being dealt by security agents in both countries. We will monitor the situation and see where we can be involved in due course.

“For now, we send our sincere condolences to the bereaved family,” Tuwei added.

Bernard Matheka, who has ran for Kenya at the 2005 IAAF World Youth, 2006 IAAF World Cross and the 2007 Africa Championships contacted Citizen Digital to tell of the anguish the murder has had on athletes supported by the couple.

“They have housed me for the past five years in the apartment the incident occurred and the killer is a Kenyan born runner based in the United States.

“It is shocking since the couple has been supporting me and a number of athletes and housing us when we travel to Switzerland,” the 2:21:28 career best marathoner added.

“At the moment, we are making plans to fly the parents of Korir to Switzerland since the husband who was here supervising the building of their home in Kaptumo has already left,” the mourning athlete said.

Matheka further stated Korir who ran 8:11.80 to beat Joseph Mahmoud (8:13.31) of France and American Brian Diemer (8:14.06) to the gold at the men 3000m steeplechase final at the Los Angeles, California Olympics was not in hospital.

The incident happened on Wednesday night when the Bernese Cantonal police were called in by neighbours following a violent dispute at the Rue Jolimont in Reconvilier.

On arrival, they found the lifeless body of a woman in the apartment.

According to a report on the Mkenya Ujerumani blog, the perpetrator was found at the scene and showed no signs of resistance when he was arrested.

A knife was also found at the scene but the police have not confirmed whether it was the weapon used.

“The alleged perpetrator was apprehended at the scene,” said the police, without specifying whether it is a runner hosted in Rue Jolimont by the couple to enable him to train.

“He was also injured during the dispute,” the Bernese policeman observed.

The relationship between the victim and the perpetrator has not been established but the police confirmed that the victim knew the perpetrator the blog added.

The deceased, a 30 year old geriatric nurse and her husband are well known for their love for running and for hosting most of Kenya’s elite runners coming to attend the Morat-Friborg Marathon.

“Her husband and their 3 and a half year old son are currently in Kenya, where the husband is overseeing the building of their home and ‘is devastated by the news,” the blog reported.

-Michael Bowen contributed to this report