British woman killed by dogs in Malindi

KENYA: Malindi police have opened an investigation into Tuesday's mystery death of a 55 year British who was found dead in a pool of blood with three bloodhounds devouring her body in Watamu area.

Police have said an autopsy will be performed on the woman to determine cause of death amid initial reports that she was attacked, knocked down, killed and eaten up by her 31 year old Kenyan boyfriend who was away from home at the time of the alleged attack.

Initial reports indicate her limp body was found by neighbours who responded to wild screams from her residence but later reports showed it is actually the boyfriend who discovered the body after returning from Mombasa where he went on Tuesday morning leaving the woman behind.

According to police the woman came to Kenyan on August 6 and was to return to the United Kingdom on Saturday. Police said that her boyfriend, who claims to be the deceased's husband had warned her not to uncage the three Rott Weiler dogs, which advise was, apparently ignored.

Kilifi County Police Commander Douglas Kanja said the woman was attacked by the dogs after she opened their cage, apparently to feed them or allow them fresh air in the gated compound.

Kanja said that the matter was reported to the police on Tuesday at around 7.50 pm prompting the police rushed to the scene.

It is not clear where the dogs were taken because police gave contradicting accounts. Some said the dogs were killed by veterinary officials while others claimed the animals had been taken away by the Kenya Wildlife Services as part of the investigation. The corpse was taken to a private hospital in Mombasa after being moved from Malindi on Wednesday.

Kanja who described the incident as very unfortunate warned that the dogs in question were a dangerous breed because they are vicious and forgetful leading to cases of people being killed by their own dogs.