The family of Irvo Otieno, a Kenyan who died while he was handcuffed and pinned down by police officers at a mental hospital in Virginia, United States has reached a settlement of Ksh1.2 billion.
According to his family, Otieno was suffering from mental illness during the time of the incident, as seven police officers restrained him by pinning him down for several minutes.
CCTV footage released by a prosecutor during the hearing of the case showed Otieno being pinned to the floor by multiple security officers at a Virginia state mental health facility.
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Detectives had earlier this year ruled the death of the 28-year-old Otieno as a homicide.
The New York Times had reported that lawyers of the family Mark Krudys and Ben Crump, were pleased to reach an agreement with the State in the murder case.
“The family is pleased to find a resolution outside of court in a manner that honours Irvo Otieno’s life,” the lawyers noted in a joint statement.
At the same time, the Washington Post reported that the prosecution in Virginia State had filed second-degree murder charges against the seven police officers and three health workers at the hospital.
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The State County and Sheriff’s office have agreed to pay the settlement fee but they have denied being involved in Otieno’s death.
His death caused an uproar in the United States as human rights defenders and activists raised concern over the mistreatment and the killing of a black man by the police.
According to Otieno’s mother, Caroline Ouko, she had gone to a pharmacy to get some drugs for him before the officers pounced on him.
He was taken to Henrico County jail on March 3, 2023, but three days later, he was returned to Perham Doctors’ Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
