British aristocrat in the country for hearing of son's death inquest

MOMBASA: British aristocrat whose son, Alexander Monson, died in police custody on May 19, 2012 is in the country ahead of today’s start of a judicial inquest into his son’s death.

Lord Nicholas Monson flew to Mombasa on Saturday accompanied with several experts including forensic investigators, lawyers and support staff.

The inquest was supposed to begin in February this year but was postponed on the first day of the hearing after Lord Monson sought time to analyse thousands of pages and documents the State had supplied him with on a short notice.

The documents were part of the investigation material to be used.

Speaking to The Standard, Mr Monson expressed his doubts over the willingness and capacity of the Kenyan authorities to handle the case.

In February, Monson claimed that Kenyan authorities had lost interest in his son’s death especially after the death of then Internal Security minister, George Saitoti.

He said Prof Saitoti was dedicated to initiating a thorough investigation before he was, himself, killed in a helicopter crash.

FATHER’S PAIN

The Briton’s determination to find the alleged killers of his only son heir to the Monson baronetcy echoes the legendary determination of British hotelier, John Ward, who has traveled to Kenya many times to push for investigations in the 1988 murder of his daughter, Julie Ward, at the Masai Mara Game Park.

Monson believes his son as a result of either being hit at the back of his head and scrotum inside the Diani police cells where he had been held after he was allegedly caught smoking marijuana in public, or through some form of medical negligence.

He accuses Diani police and Kenyan authorities of trying to cover up a murder but warns he won’t let the matter disappear.