§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a Kikuyu tribesman suffering from tuberculosis of the spine was recently beaten by the police and subsequently died, and that an inquest followed; what was the cause of death recorded at this inquest; whether tuberculosis of the spine was found at the post mortem examination; and whether this was known to the police before chastisement was administered.
§ Mr. Hopkinson,pursuant to Mr. LYTTELTON'S reply of 11th March [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 512, c. 125], supplied the following information:
At the inquest held on Elijah Njeru Gideon on the 30th January, 1953, the presiding magistrate found that the deceased had died on 29th January from shock resulting from multiple injuries inflicted by beating. It appears from the record of the inquest that the beating was carried out under orders by askari, who were not themselves called as witnesses, with a view to obtaining information as to the whereabouts of hidden firearms used by a Mau Mau gang. There was evidence of past tubercular infection which medical opinion declared to have healed and not to have affected the deceased's ability to withstand shock. There is no suggestion in the record that the fact of this previous infection was known to those who ordered the beating or those who carried it out.
The inquest proceedings were referred last month to the Attorney-General in order that he may consider the institution 186W of criminal proceedings against the persons responsible for this man's death.