Fresh details have emerged on what could have led to the death of two-time World 10,000 metre bronze medalist Agnes Tirop.
An Eldoret High Court was told on Wednesday by her former athletics coach Joseph Cheromei that the slain athlete feared for her life in the weeks leading up to her death.
Cheromei, who claims to be a coach at the Iten Athletics Training Camp in Elgeyo Marakwet, told presiding judge Robert Wanada Tirop was concerned about her safety because of an extramarital affair, which was brought to light by her manager Giani Demadona.
According to Cheromei, Demadona informed him about how Tirop confided in him about the affair with a man only identified using a nickname since his real names were not immediately disclosed.
The court heard that Cheromei was asked by Tirop's agent to bring her to camp in 2021 where she could adequately prepare for upcoming races in Tokyo, Japan, and Valencia, Spain without any distractions.
“My agent (Demadona) instructed me to bring Agnes to the camp after he learned that she was going through tough times [at] the hands of her estranged partner at their Iten house, which was situated about 500m from the training camp,” Cheromei told the court.
He was testifying in a case where the key suspect in Tirop's death, is facing murder charges.
The suspect is believed to have ended Tirop's life on October 13, 2021, on the outskirts of Iten town in Elgeyo Marakwet county. The athlete's death came just five days after returning from the Tokyo Olympics, where she placed a respectable fifth in the 5000m race.
The key suspect has consistently maintained his innocence and was freed on a Ksh 400,000 bond.
Another witness, who claims to be the main suspect's in-law told the court of how the suspect borrowed her car to run an errand in Trans Nzoia county on October 12. According to the witness, she only learnt of Tirop's death on the news, a day after she gave the suspect her car.
Inquiries about the status of her vehicle on October 12, 2021 were futile as by the time she reached, the suspect has switched off his phone.
The hearing of the case is set to continue on November 5, 2024, where three key witnesses are set to testify.
