The former partner of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who was accused of killing the Olympian by setting her on fire, has died. Dickson Ndiema reportedly died from burns sustained during the attack.
The alleged killer was facing charges of murder since the police was treating the death of Rebecca Cheptegei as a murder incident.
Ndiema allegedly doused Cheptegei in petrol and set her ablaze. The star athlete who was receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, reportedly lost her life after sustaining 80 per cent burns to her body. Ndiema, however is said to have sustained 30% burns to his body.
The duo allegedly had a dispute over a piece of land in north-west Kenya.
Rebecca Cheptegei took part in the just concluded Paris Olympics 2024. She placed 44th in the Women’s Marathon. Cheptegei qualified for the Olympics after finishing the Abu Dhabi Marathon in 2022 in two hours, 22 minutes and 47 seconds, her best time.
The unfortunate incident occurred at Cheptegei’s house in western Trans Nzoia County, close to the Ugandan border. The Ugandan runner had recently relocated to be closer to higher ranking Kenyan training facilities.
According to the country’s Olympic Committee, Cheptegei is due to be buried on September 14 near her family home in eastern Uganda.
