Lt Col David Parkinson brutally murdered
Lt Col Parkinson led conservation in Laikipia, Kenya, where rhinos are bred
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Bongo-Bongo anyone? Briton butchered by machete gang in Kenya paradise
Lieutenant
Colonel David Parkinson, 56, died after he and his wife Sonja were
attacked at their ranch in Laikipia, Kenya, on Saturday.
Police said the five-member gang entered the couple’s bedroom at their Rift Valley home by breaking a glass door with a stone.
They ordered the couple to hand over their firearms and all their money.
Local reports suggest the gang took 300 Kenyan shillings – equivalent to just £2.19 – a bottle of champagne and a mobile phone.
It was claimed that Lt Col Parkinson bled to death after having his left hand cut off.
Mrs Parkinson managed to escape and returned later to find her husband dead.
Area
police commander Marius Tum said: “One of the gang members was armed
with a pistol, another with a machete while the rest had crude weapons.
“While one of them was terrorising Mr Parkinson, the others tied his wife’s hands with ropes.
“Mrs
Parkinson, who had sustained a cut on her back, managed to untie
herself and escape to a nearby store where she hid herself until the
gangsters left.”
Police ruled out suggestions that Lt Col Parkinson was shot despite detectives recovering a bullet.
Mr
Tum said that a post-mortem examination would be conducted to determine
the exact cause of death. Detectives arrested a suspect from a nearby
village yesterday after mounting a major operation using sniffer dogs.
A
Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the
death of a British national and are standing ready to supply consular
assistance.”
Well known for his conservation
work in the north of Kenya, Lt Col Parkinson was a company director and
had worked in the country for most of the past decade after retiring
from the forces in 2003.
He had also served as
deputy director at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy after a 30-year career for
which he was awarded a military OBE in 1998.
Lt Col Parkinson was also the director of the eastern unit of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum.
He was a staunch believer in involving local communities when trying to protect wildlife.
Former
colleague David Blair paid tribute to Lt Col Parkinson saying: “You
were a good boss and always made time to talk to the blokes.”
His wife managed to untie herself and escape to a store
Friend Walter Agutu Awinda described the tragedy as “such a loss” adding: “David Parkinson was a good man.”
The couple’s ranch is in the outskirts of Nanyuki town, 18 miles to the north of Mount Kenya.
Lt
Col Parkinson moved to the picturesque Lolldaiga Hills following his
retirement. He also instructed students at the Royal Military Academy,
Sandhurst.
He had graduated from the prestigious military college after leaving Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School.
During
his three decades in the Army he served in the First and Second
Battalions of The Parachute Regiment as well as a spell in the Depot,
The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces.
He gained a masters degree in Military Leadership and Management from Staff College, Camberley.
Following the attack, the Kenyan government has pledged to beef up security in the area.
Interior principle secretary Mutea Iringo said: “The government has assured investors that it will provide security to them.
“This follows the murder of Laikipia businessman David Parkinson.”
Source express
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