Summary:
- Betty Cherotic was arrested on suspicion of murdering Masindi District Health Officer Dr. Jino Abiriga, whose body was discovered with severe injuries near his home, as investigators scrutinize Cherotic’s alibi and forensic experts analyze blood stains from the crime scene.
Police arrested Betty Cherotic suspected to have murdered Masindi District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Jino Abiriga, on Saturday night. Abiriga’s body was found dumped in the neighbour’s compound which is about 50 metres from his home.
Cherotic 31, is suspected to have killed Dr Abiriga with the help of her children or other hired individuals. The deceased and family were living at Kijura cell, central division in Masindi municipality.
Detectives’ facts indicate that on Saturday, Abiriga left his home in the morning, to attend a friend’s wedding. He later dropped at his home at around 9pm by his driver. He went to sleep with his wife in their double roomed house.
Police said their children Angela Aseru aged 17; Maureen Cherotic, aged 14 a step daughter, Kenneth Cheprotich 11 a step son, Jackline Afakoru 12 a niece, and Desire Arinaitwe 8, a daughter to his family friend slept in separate unit.
“It was very unfortunate, that the victim’s body was found dead, with a deep cut on the neck, multiple cuts on the head, hand and dumped 50 metres away from his residence. An immediate search was conducted at the premises of the deceased, and suspected blood stains recovered from the walls in the bedroom and from under their marital bed,” SCP Fred Enanga the police spokesperson said.
Cherotic claims that the victim was called on phone by someone, to go and carry out an operation on a patient and never returned home, there is no evidence yet, supporting her claim. She claims the blood stains from her bedroom, were from her menstrual cycle.
“We wish to inform the public, that no matter how well, a cover up is made surrounding the heinous act, we will uncover the truth. Our team of forensic experts, recovered blood stains and other samples for forensic analysis that will help establish, whether the victim was murdered from his house or elsewhere and the body dumped near his home,” Enanga said.
