Pictures of Ex-Boyfriend Who Set Ugandan Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei on Fire Emerge
Pictures have emerged of Dickson Ndiema, the ex-boyfriend responsible for the brutal attack that led to the death of Olympic marathon star Rebecca Cheptegei.
Cheptegei, 33, suffered severe burns covering 80 percent of her body in the brutal assault on Sunday. She was rushed to the intensive care unit at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Unfortunately, the hospital’s acting director, Dr. Owen Menach, confirmed that Cheptegei passed away on Wednesday night after all her organs failed.
Pictures of Dickson Ndiema have emerged as he recovers from burn injuries he sustained during the attack.
Also read: Tragedy: Olympic Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Ex-Boyfriend Sets Her on Fire
Land Dispute Revealed as Motive
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph, shed light on the conflict that led to the deadly confrontation. He revealed that his daughter and Ndiema had been arguing over her land in Endebes, Trans Nzoia, shortly before the attack.
“They were just friends and I wonder why he wanted to take away things belonging to my daughter,” Cheptegei Snr told The Star.
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Father Denies Romantic Involvement
Hours before the incident, both Cheptegei and Ndiema reportedly appeared before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kitale regarding their land dispute. Mr Cheptegei denied that the two were ever in a romantic relationship, stating,
‘”I wish to state that my wounded daughter is married and her husband is in Uganda. Her attacker was a friend they met in Kenya and my daughter trusted him.”
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Shocking Details of the Attack Emerge As Pictures of Dickson Ndiema Are Released
He recounted the harrowing details of the day of the attack, explaining that Ndiema came to Rebecca’s house with five litres of petrol and hid in a poultry house. He ambushed her as she was outside, pouring the petrol over her before igniting the flames.
“They fell out recently but the suspect sneaked into her compound on Sunday afternoon, armed with five litres of petrol and hid in a poultry house. Rebecca was outside the house when the suspect appeared and immediately poured petrol on her before lighting the fire,” Mr Cheptegei explained.
Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah Ole Kosiom confirmed Mr Cheptegei’s account, stating that the two had been embroiled in a dispute over a plot in Kinyoro.