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Inquest into the death Baktash Akasha's second wife who died 9 years ago stalls

An inquest into the death of Baktash Akasha’s second wife failed to kick off yesterday due to lack of witnesses.

State Counsel Peris Maina told Mombasa Principal Magistrate Charles Ndegwa that two police officers failed to turn up despite being bonded to testify.

Soud Baktash Akasha died in mysterious circumstances at home on June 28, 2010.

Miss Maina asked the court to adjourn the hearing to allow a new investigation officer to trace and summon the witness. She said the previous investigation officer had been interdicted.

Mr Ndegwa ordered that the next hearing take place on April 16. Thirteen witnesses, including Akasha, have testified in the inquest that started in May 2014.

Akasha is awaiting a March 15 sentencing in the US after he admitted having attempted to traffic 99kg of heroin. He faces life imprisonment.

Soud was quickly buried amid claims she committed suicide in the bathroom as her husband and mother-in-law watched a World Cup match at 11pm.

But her family in the Ukraine protested and obtained a court order to exhume her body. Police then opened the inquest to investigate whether there was foul play involved.

Akasha had told the court that Soud and his first wife, Najuma, were in good terms and had even danced for him as he watched the football match.

He said Soud went upstairs to change her clothes as Najuma prepared supper. When food was served, he asked that Soud be told to join them and was told she was bathing.

Akasha testified that he went up to the bathroom and heard the tap running. He called Soud's name but there was no response.

“I broke the door and found her hanging by a bed sheet tied to the shower as water poured on her,” he said.

He said he cut her loose and took her to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.